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Michelle Hadley was arrested in June 2016 after she allegedly tried to get revenge on her ex-boyfriend deputy U.S. Marshal Ian Diaz and his new wife, Angela Diaz, by sending anonymous threats to the couple and even soliciting men on Craigslist to carry out a "rape fantasy" that involved the Diazes.
Hadley was arrested and served almost three months in prison before the truth behind the case was fully discovered in 2017, revealing that Hadley was actually a victim all along.
The case is now being broken down in Netflix's July 2026 documentary A Toxic Love Story. Everything to know about the case, below.
What Was Michelle Hadley Accused Of?
Hadley and Ian met online in 2013 and they quickly began dating. The couple moved fast and even bought a condo together in a suburb of Anaheim, California, which came with a $500,000 mortgage. Hadley provided the $15,000 down payment.
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The pair split in August 2015, and Ian married Angela just months later in February 2016 after they also met on a dating website.
The new couple began receiving threatening emails from an anonymous account named "Lilithistruth" in May 2016, which they originally pinned on Hudley.
Ian Diaz and Angela Diaz Were Actually Behind the Disturbing Messages
While Ian and Angela wanted people to believe that Hadley was behind the harassment, an investigation ultimately revealed that Ian and Angela were the ones sending the messages in an attempt for Hadley to give up her half of the condo she shared with Ian that she was entitled to.
The couple created multiple online accounts in Hadley's name, as well as posted and responded to "rape fantasy" ads on Craigslist that led several men to their home.
Ian and Angela went as far as to stage "hoax sexual assaults" before they called the police.
Police reported to the Diazes home on June 13, 2016, and the couple insisted Hadley was behind the messages. Ian even told officers that Hadley "needs to be in f***ing cuffs and in a padded room," according to an indictment viewed by The Independent.
"At what point does this girl get arrested for sending this s*** and hiring guys off Craigslist to rape [Angela]," Ian reportedly told the officers.
Angela called 911 again on June 24, 2016, and claimed that a man had tried to rape her in the garage of her home. Police then reported to the residence, where they found her with her shirt torn and red marks over her body.
Hadley was then arrested and charged with felony counts of attempted forcible rape and stalking on June 24, 2016. She was facing life in prison for her charges, but she was never officially sentenced. Hadley only served 88 days in jail before the identity of who was really behind the crimes was revealed.
How Were Ian Diaz and Angela Diaz Tied to the Crime?
Ian and Angela were tied to the crime after digital forensic investigators learned that the "Lilithistruth" accounts were actually created by Angela, not Hadley as previously claimed. Investigators learned that the device logs and IP addresses poked holes into the story that the Diazes had been telling and proved Hadley had never stalked them.
Hadley's charges were dropped in January 2017, and Angela was arrested that same month. Angela pleaded guilty to 10 felony counts in October 2017 and was sentenced to five years in prison. She has since divorced Ian.
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Michelle Hadley Sued the City of Anaheim After Her Charges Were Dropped
Hadley sued the city of Anaheim and four of its police officers in 2018 for the way in which the case was handled. She argued that she had been charged for horrendous crimes despite the emails being "clearly doctored."
"At its heart, this is a case about the ‘blue wall of silence' - law enforcement officers and officials enabling fellow officers to violate civilians' rights. The Anaheim Police Department and its officers abdicated their duties to adhere to investigative norms, instead conspiring to do the bidding of a corrupt federal marshal," her lawsuit read, per The Independent. "They appear to have willingly become Ian Diaz's weapon in his tortious campaign to ruin the life of his ex-girlfriend, plaintiff Michelle Hadley."
Hadley eventually accepted an undisclosed settlement from the city of Anaheim in April 2021.
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Ian Diaz Was Arrested 4 Years After the Truth Behind the Crime Was Exposed
Four years after his involvement in the case was revealed, Ian was arrested on federal charges of cyberstalking, conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and perjury. He was found guilty on all counts and was sentenced to serve 10 years and one month in prison.
Following his sentencing, Hadley told NBC News that she was "grateful" to the Justice Department for finally prosecuting Diaz. She then said that the verdict "brought so much peace to my family and restored some of the faith we lost in the justice system as a result of Diaz's crimes against me."
When Does ‘A Toxic Love Story' Premiere on Netflix?
A Toxic Love Story will premiere on Netflix on July 22, 2026.
