A former US Marshal, Ian Diaz, and his wife, Angela Diaz, have been convicted and sentenced for a far-reaching revenge plot that resulted in Diaz's ex-girlfriend, Michelle Hadley, wrongfully spending 88 days in jail. The scheme involved fabricated cyberstalking claims, death threats, and a staged "rape fantasy" attack, detailed in the new Netflix documentary "A Toxic Love Story."
The Revenge Plot Unfolds
The elaborate plan began after Hadley ended her relationship with Ian Diaz in 2015. Diaz, described by Hadley as having transformed from a "wholesome boy" into a "sex-obsessed fiend," allegedly manipulated his new wife, Angela, into helping him exact revenge. Weeks after their breakup, Diaz married Angela, who he met at a Starbucks. Soon after, Angela claimed she was pregnant with twins, a detail that investigators later revealed as a fabrication.
In May 2016, Angela began reporting receiving disturbing emails from an anonymous online persona, "Lilithistruth." The messages escalated from warnings to threats, including references to Ian's perceived ownership of their shared condo and menacing statements directed at Angela. The couple repeatedly contacted the Anaheim police, obtaining a restraining order against Hadley.
Staged Attack and False Accusations
The plot intensified in June 2016 when Ian Diaz claimed Hadley had posed as Angela to respond to a Craigslist advertisement seeking a woman for a "rape fantasy" role-play. The ad, posted by an individual identified as "Rick," detailed a scenario that mirrored aspects of the messages reportedly sent by "Lilithistruth." Investigators later determined that Ian Diaz himself had responded to the ad, arranging for "Rick" to come to his home with the intention of framing Hadley.
Further allegations included a staged garage attack where Angela Diaz claimed to have been assaulted by a masked figure. She presented a mark on the wall as evidence, which investigators later identified as a makeup stain. Despite Hadley admitting to sending Ian Diaz two emails under the "Lilithistruth" alias in the past, she maintained she was not responsible for the subsequent threats and the fabricated assault. Police arrested Hadley on felony stalking charges.
Investigation Reveals Deception
While Hadley was in jail, Ian Diaz began to turn on his wife, revealing to a friend that Angela had faked her pregnancy. He presented fake pregnancy test results to the police, claiming Angela had been lying and that he had been deceived. This revelation prompted a deeper investigation into the couple's claims.
Investigators discovered that Angela Diaz had a history of deception. Her ex-boyfriend, Jason Rayburn, revealed that Angela had previously faked a stage-four cervical cancer diagnosis. He discovered her deceit when he accompanied her to a supposed chemotherapy appointment, only to find she was having a mole removed, and a picture of her "hospital room" was a stock image from the internet.
Convictions and Sentencing
Evidence gathered from Ian Diaz's work computer revealed draft versions of the "Lilithistruth" emails and confirmed his communication with "Rick" from Craigslist. In May 2021, Ian Diaz was arrested on federal charges. He was convicted in 2023 of conspiracy to commit cyberstalking, cyberstalking, perjury, and obstruction of justice, receiving a sentence of 10 years and one month. He was dismissed from his position as a US Marshal.
Angela Diaz was charged with 10 felony counts and pleaded guilty in 2017, receiving a five-year sentence. Prosecutors noted her lack of remorse during her sentencing.
Investigators concluded that Ian Diaz's actions stemmed from an obsession with control and power, seeking to frame Hadley after she ended their relationship. The documentary suggests Angela Diaz, who portrayed herself as a victim, was exploited by Ian for her susceptibility to portraying herself in such a light.
Ian Diaz, now divorced from Angela, sold the condo in 2016 without returning Hadley's deposit. Hadley, who has since had a child with a new partner, stated that while Ian Diaz achieved his goal of revenge, it ultimately cost him his freedom.