Lies, Craigslist, and a ‘Rape Fantasy’ Plot: Inside the Twisted Case that Sent the Wrong Woman to Jail

It was an accusation that left Michelle Hadley stunned – and ultimately behind bars for three months in a California jail. Now, nearly a decade later, her ordeal is the focus of a twist-filled true crime story that’s almost too wild to believe

Hadley is at the center of the latest episode of Investigation Discovery’s new true crime series TOXIC, a six-part docuseries focusing on “the dark and twisted side of relationships”-gone wrong, according to an ID press release. (An exclusive clip of the episode, which airs Monday, May 12, at 10 p.m. ET on ID and will also be available to stream on Max, is shown below.)

A “nightmare” that Hadley once described as “probably the most traumatic experience of my life,” police accused the Ontario, Calif., native of posing as her ex-boyfriend’s pregnant wife and creating fake “rape fantasy” ads on Craigslist, which the ex-boyfriend’s wife, Angela Diaz, had said resulted in three men coming to her home. 

Diaz told police at least one of the men attacked her before she was able to escape, and authorities soon arrested Hadley and charged her with more than half a dozen felonies — including stalking, criminal threats, and forcible attempted rape.

The charges left Hadley in jail for three months in 2016 before authorities uncovered the unexpected truth: They had arrested the wrong woman.

Orange County detectives discovered that the messages posted to Craigslist originated from Diaz’s own home and phone, PEOPLE previously reported. After investigating the twist further, detectives also discovered Diaz had spun a web of lies to steer their original investigation into Hadley.

Diaz claimed to have cervical cancer, pretended to be an attorney, forged doctor’s notes and even faked her pregnancy, Orange County prosecutors later laid out in her own criminal trial. She even told police Hadley was sending emails threatening to kill her and her unborn child, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said.

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Diaz was sentenced to five years in prison in Oct. 2017, and Hadley was fully exonerated. In 2023, Ian Diaz – the husband and ex-boyfriend of Hadley – was convicted of his own charges related to the crime after detectives determined he aided his wife Angela in the bizarre plot, WKRC reported.

“It is unfathomable why Ms. Diaz would concoct such a diabolical scheme to hurt an innocent person,” District Attorney Tony Rackauckas had said at the time of Angela Diaz’s sentencing.

“Even while pleading guilty, Diaz showed no remorse, compassion, or empathy for the victim,” Rackauckas added. “We hope the resolution of this case brings some closure to Ms. Hadley so she can move forward in her life.”

But moving on proved complicated for Hadley, who told Dateline NBC in 2017 that, “I’ll carry this around for the rest of my life.”

For the first time in years, Hadley will sit down to reflect on the case with TOXIC host Elizabeth Chambers in the series’ latest episode. The newest episode of TOXIC airs Monday, May 12, at 10 p.m. ET on ID and streaming on Max.