My ex & his wife framed me as a stalker and had me jailed for attempted rape… then her slip-up revealed the truth

WHEN Michelle Hadley, 39, left her abusive fiancé, she could never have predicted what he’d do next. Here, she shares her story of control, revenge and a shocking web of deceit. Michelle Hadley, 39, shares her story of control, revenge and a shocking web of deceit by her abusive fiancé Credit: COURTESY OF NETFLIX Michelle had a two-year relationship with Ian Diaz, who she says coerced and controlled her Credit: COURTESY OF NETFLIX Sitting alone in my cell, I broke down. Locked up in a high-security prison with violent gang members and child kidnappers, I knew what my “crime” was. I had, after a two-year abusive relationship, finally broken away from my ex – and this was my punishment. Along with his new wife, he’d framed me as a jealous, dangerous stalker and had me put in prison. I first met Ian Diaz, then 36, online in 2013. My only previous boyfriend had been my high school sweetheart and I was naive and inexperienced. A charming and attentive Deputy US Marshal, which I believed made him responsible and trustworthy, he took me to Disneyland on our first date, affectionately comparing me to Belle from Beauty And The Beast. Working in marketing and studying for an MBA, I was looking for someone loving and reliable to have a future with, and he ticked all the boxes. Everything was perfect for the first three months, until one day he confessed he fantasised about watching me sleep with another man. Shocked, I told him I’d never do that, and if it was his “thing”, we weren’t compatible. At first, he accepted that, but then he continued to bring it up. When I refused, he’d ghost me for days, or start to talk about another woman to make me jealous. The pressure and punishments increased until, in February 2014, I agreed to his request, albeit with great reluctance. By then, he’d broken me down so much mentally, I felt I had no choice, and hoped that if I did it once, he’d never ask again. He found a man via the online platform Craigslist, who was looking for casual sex, and I did what he wanted. I now believe my consent wasn’t genuine because of Ian’s coercion, and what happened to me was rape. I felt so much shame and fear he’d use it against me. After that, Ian’s abuse continued in different forms. He became fixated on changing my appearance, pressuring me to get a belly button piercing and have long nails. All l wanted was to go back to the beginning of our relationship. I kept thinking: “This can’t be the real him.” I was so desperate to believe in the Ian I’d fallen in love with that I accepted his marriage proposal that winter, and the following year used all my savings on a deposit for an apartment in Anaheim, Orange County. Ian was obsessed with the $465,000 property and I felt he coerced me into buying it. I hoped being engaged and living together would make him happy and loving again – but instead, he tracked me and installed cameras in the apartment “for security”. I felt constantly on edge and paranoid, my confidence was at rock bottom and I felt isolated from family and friends. Finally, in August 2015, after confiding in my horrified sister, I left him and moved home. Ian continued to harass me with calls and messages and, knowing he had a gun for work, I became terrified he’d kill me. I didn’t call the police – I felt nobody would believe me because of his job. I spiralled into a breakdown and sent him two emails in which – because I really wasn’t in my right mind – I quoted biblical passages about getting justice. Not long after that, I was hospitalised and diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder. When I returned to my parents’ home to recuperate, I hoped my nightmare was over. In fact, it was only beginning. Michelle is interviewed on Netflix’s A Toxic Love Story Credit: COURTESY OF NETFLIX Ian and his then-wife Angela Connell were both imprisoned for their lies Credit: Unknown By now, Ian had begun a new relationship with a woman called Angela Connell, who he married in early 2016. I discovered they were together after seeing paperwork related to Ian taking over the mortgage on our apartment, which also carried her signature. In June, I was served with a restraining order prohibiting me from contacting Angela – who alleged I’d been stalking and harassing her with threatening emails from an address called “Lilithistruth”. Shocked and confused, I learned police believed that I was behind the Lilith emails. I vehemently denied this, telling them they should be tracing the IP address which, I felt sure, would lead them to Ian and Angela. Meanwhile, unbeknown to me, Ian and Angela – who was pregnant with twins – were escalating their plot against me. They told police I’d sent emails with photos of decapitated babies and placed ads on Craigslist purporting to be Angela, looking for men to take part in a “rape fantasy”. Angela even called 911, claiming she’d been assaulted by a masked intruder, lured to their home by me. It never happened. I knew nothing about any of this until July 2016, when I thrown in jail, charged with stalking and attempted rape. Finding myself in prison was like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from, and I was determined to prove my innocence – but in the end, I didn’t have to. Michelle outside court with her lawyer after being released from prison after 88 days Credit: COURTESY OF NETFLIX Domestic abuse - how to get help DOMESTIC abuse can affect anyone - including men - and does not always involve physical violence. Here are some signs that you could be in an abusive relationship: Emotional abuse – Including being belittled, blamed for the abuse – gaslighting – being isolated from family and friends, having no control over your finances, what you where and who you speak to Threats and intimidation – Some partners might threaten to kill or hurt you, destroy your belongings, stalk or harass you Physical abuse – This can range from slapping or hitting to being shoved over, choked or bitten. Sexual abuse – Being touched in a way you do not want to be touched, hurt during sex, pressured into sex or forced to have sex when you do not consent. If any of the above apply to you or a friend, you can call these numbers: The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night Men who are being abused can call Respect Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 or ManKind on 0182 3334 244 Those who identify as LGBT+ can ring Galop on 0800 999 5428 If you are in immediate danger or fear for your life, always ring 999 Remember, you are not alone. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic abuse over the course of their lifetime. Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for help relating to domestic abuse. In a bizarre turn of events, it transpired that Angela had faked her pregnancy – she’d falsely claimed to have a cancer diagnosis in a previous relationship, too. This led to Ian telling police he now believed his own wife was behind the emails. Angela pleaded guilty to charges including fraud and was sentenced to five years in prison. This triggered my release in October 2016 after 88 days behind bars. Walking out of jail, I felt both huge relief and anger. I’d been cast as a “crazy, jealous woman”, then that narrative had switched to Angela, but Ian was getting off scott-free. Angela’s lawyer had suggested Ian also be investigated but that hadn’t happened. I made complaints to the police and the Department of Justice – who Ian worked for – and the case was finally investigated thoroughly. The electronic evidence proved Ian and Angela had been in it together. He was charged with crimes including cyberstalking in 2021, but pleaded not guilty, and in 2023 I gave evidence in court, by then heavily pregnant with my daughter. The morning after I gave birth, he was found guilty and jailed for a decade. It felt symbolic – an end to something awful and the beginning of something beautiful. Ian is now behind bars. Angela moved away after serving her sentence, and I am a happily single mum of one. I did date after Ian, but it was hard to trust. My standards are very high to protect me and my daughter. Alongside my marketing career, I’m now a domestic abuse activist, giving talks and working with politicians. People have asked me why Ian – aided by Angela – did this to me. It wasn’t financial, as while he sold our apartment and I never saw my deposit again, he only made around $10,000. I tell them it was about control and punishment, because I had dared to walk away. I also believe he is a psychopath. I paid a huge price for his determination to ruin my life, but now I am free, happy – and looking to the future with my daughter. Watch A Toxic Love Story on Netflix now.