[acomjean]

Over zealous prosecution can make one’s life a living hell which certainly didn’t help.

Add to that a young man who might have had some depression issues (I’m not sure) and you have a heartbreaking tragedy.

From the Wikipedia:

Days before Swartz's funeral, Lawrence Lessig eulogized his friend and sometime-client in an essay, "Prosecutor as Bully." He decried the disproportionality of Swartz's prosecution and said, "The question this government needs to answer is why it was so necessary that Aaron Swartz be labeled a 'felon'. For in the 18 months of negotiations, that was what he was not willing to accept."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Swartz

It’s heartbreaking even years on.