Warning: This article contains discussion of rape which some readers may find distressing.
A Department of Justice special agent has described the understated tactics Ian Diaz allegedly used to win over police, helping steer suspicion toward his ex-girlfriend Michelle Hadley, who was jailed for 88 days after being framed for cyberstalking Diaz’s new wife.
The case began with disturbing messages sent under the fake name
‘Lilithistruth’
and escalated into a devastating accusation against Hadley, who authorities initially believed had been obsessively targeting Angela Diaz, the wife of a man she had once loved.
Investigators in Anaheim initially thought the evidence pointed squarely at Hadley.
The situation was even described by police as
‘A monster of a case’
but prosecutors would later argue the real architects of the scheme were Ian and Angela Diaz themselves.
As the inquiry progressed, officials said the pair had built an extensive false narrative. Among the claims was an allegation that Hadley had arranged for a man from Craigslist to carry out a
‘rape fantasy’
involving Angela, something prosecutors later said was part of Ian Diaz’s attempt to frame his former partner.
Jason Higley, now a DOJ special agent, began examining Diaz’s role while serving as a US Marshal. In the Netflix documentary A Toxic Love Story, Higley said the manipulation extended far beyond fake emails and threats.
“This is play acting,” Higley said in the Netflix documentary, A Toxic Love Story.
Higley said Diaz appeared to carefully present himself as a fellow officer, using that identity to build instant credibility with responding police.
“By wearing his badge, and then by putting it on the table, Ian is trying to show to them, ‘I’m one of you, and you should credit what I say’.
“Ian’s effort to manipulate the Anaheim Police Department was starting to get traction.”
According to Higley, that was not the only calculated move in the case.
On one occasion, officers were sent to the couple’s condo after Diaz reported that a man was on his way there in response to an online ad. Prosecutors later alleged Diaz had created that ad himself as part of the setup.
When police arrived, Diaz was outside with a gun, something Higley believes was intended to reinforce the seriousness of the alleged threat in the minds of officers on the scene.
“Police arrive on scene, Ian can see that they are police officers, and he is standing there with his firearm out, to persuade the police department that the threat is so severe that he has to prepared to use lethal force, to stop his wife from being attacked.”
Ultimately, investigators concluded that Ian Diaz had orchestrated the plot to frame Hadley and that Angela had helped him carry it out. Both were later convicted on all counts.
According to the Department of Justice, Ian Diaz was convicted in March 2023 of conspiracy to commit cyberstalking, cyberstalking, perjury and obstruction of a federal investigation. He was sentenced on June 30, 2023, to 10 years and one month in prison.
Angela received a five-year state prison sentence, while Ian was sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison.
Netflix says A Toxic Love Story is available to stream now. The documentary, which arrived on July 22, 2026, revisits the yearslong investigation that eventually exposed the plot against Hadley.
A Toxic Love Story is now streaming on Netflix.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, please know that you are not alone. You can talk in confidence 24 hours a day to the national domestic violence helpline on 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) 24/7. You can find a list of local resources here.
If you’ve been affected by sexual assault, you can contact The National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800.656.HOPE (4673), available 24/7. Or you can chat online via
online.rainn.org