Michelle Hadley spent 88 days in jail after her ex-fiancé, Ian Diaz, and his new wife, Angela Connell, falsely accused her of cyberstalking and threats. Hadley, then 39, was arrested in July 2016, facing potential life imprisonment on charges that included stalking.
The couple had reported Hadley to law enforcement in Anaheim, California, beginning in May 2016, alleging she was sending threatening messages from an account named "LilithIsTruth." These messages escalated, including threats against Angela and claims that Ian did not love her. The couple also obtained a restraining order against Hadley.
Fabricated Allegations
The situation took a more disturbing turn when Ian Diaz claimed Hadley had posed as Angela Connell to respond to a Craigslist ad seeking women for a "rape fantasy." The ad's poster stated he received a message from "Lilithistruth" detailing a desire to be followed, dragged upstairs, and to be screamed at during a simulated rape. Angela later reported to police that she had been physically threatened in her garage by an assailant she described as wearing a ski mask.
Investigators, however, began to suspect foul play. While Hadley was incarcerated, evidence emerged suggesting Angela had sent the threatening emails to herself and fabricated the attempted rape. Investigators learned that Angela had a history of deception, including lying to a previous ex-boyfriend about a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis, providing doctored sonograms, and fabricating pregnancy tests.
Angela was arrested in January 2017 and pleaded guilty to charges including fraud, false imprisonment, and falsely reporting a crime. She was sentenced to five years in prison.
Extended Investigation and Conviction
Despite Angela's conviction, Department of Justice Special Agent Jason Higley remained suspicious. After reviewing body camera footage from the couple's 911 calls, Higley became convinced that Ian was coaching Angela on her statements. A further investigation uncovered fragments of the "LilithIsTruth" email on Ian's computer, indicating his involvement in crafting at least one of the messages.
Investigators believe Ian Diaz orchestrated the scheme to frame Hadley, possibly motivated by a desire to retain ownership of a condo Hadley had co-signed for. Higley suggested Ian's motive was rooted in control, as Hadley had previously left a relationship with him.
Ian Diaz, a former US Marshal, was arrested in May 2021. He was later convicted of stalking, perjury, and obstruction of justice and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was dismissed from the US Marshals Service in 2023, and his conviction appeal was denied by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is scheduled for release on January 31, 2031.
Aftermath and Legal Settlements
Hadley, cleared of all charges, was released after 88 days of imprisonment. She subsequently sued the Anaheim Police Department for allegedly overlooking evidence that could have exonerated her and failing to properly investigate the framing claims. The city settled the lawsuit with Hadley in 2021 without admitting liability. Sources reported Hadley received a settlement of approximately $1.8 million.
Angela was released from prison in 2020 and completed her parole in 2021. She has since founded a nonprofit and maintains she was wrongfully convicted.
The events of the case were chronicled in the Netflix documentary "A Toxic Love Story," which premiered on July 23. However, the documentary omitted some details of Angela's extensive web of lies, including fabricated aspects of her education, employment, and personal history, as well as her alleged pattern of creating false narratives to elicit sympathy and financial gain.