Netflix’s latest true crime documentary, A Toxic Love Story, has thrust one of California’s most shocking miscarriages of justice back into the spotlight. Directed by Alexandra Lacey and produced by Curious Films, the show revisits the disturbing story of former US Deputy Marshal Ian Diaz, his new partner, Angela, and his ex-fiancée Michelle Hadley.
Back in 2016, Michelle was wrongly arrested and spent 88 awful days behind bars after being accused of orchestrating a violent "rape fantasy" harassment plot against Ian and his new wife.
However, as digital investigators dug deeper into the paper trail, they uncovered a twisted web of fake online identities, fabricated evidence and a scheme far more sinister than anyone initially believed.
If you’re tuning into the doc and asking yourself who one key player behind the plot was, here is everything you need to know about Ian Diaz and where he is today...
Who is Ian Diaz?
Ian Diaz is a former US Deputy Marshal who was based in Southern California. Before his fall from grace, Diaz was engaged to Michelle Hadley. After their relationship broke down, he met and married Angela (also known as Ashley) in 2016.
When their 'ordeal' first hit headlines, Ian and Angela presented themselves as terrorised victims trapped in an unrelenting stalking campaign, framing Michelle as an obsessive ex. In reality, investigators later discovered that Diaz was one of the mastermind architects behind the entire plot.
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How did Ian Diaz frame Michelle Hadley?
To execute the framing of Michelle, Ian partnered with his then-wife Angela to orchestrate a years-long digital attack designed to ruin Michelle’s life:
- Fake Personas: The couple created dozens of fake email addresses and burner accounts impersonating Michelle.
- Fabricated Threats: They sent aggressive, threatening messages to themselves using these fake accounts to build a bogus paper trail for law enforcement.
- Craigslist 'Rape Fantasy' Ads: In the most dangerous element of the scheme, they posted ads on Craigslist inviting men to Angela's home to fulfil a violent sexual fantasy, claiming Angela was "playing along" as part of a roleplay.
The fraudulent digital paper trail initially convinced police that Michelle was behind the harassment, leading to her arrest and 88-day imprisonment.
However, when digital forensics traced the IP addresses and account creation back to Ian and Angela's own devices, prosecutors realised Michelle was entirely innocent.
What sentence did Ian Diaz receive?
After a federal investigation unravelled the conspiracy, Diaz faced serious criminal charges. In 2023, he was convicted in federal court of:
- Conspiracy to commit cyberstalking
- Cyberstalking
- Perjury
- Obstruction of justice
He was sentenced to 10 years and one month in federal prison. The Department of Justice said following his sentencing, "A former deputy U.S. Marshal was sentenced today to 10 years and one month in prison for conspiracy to commit cyberstalking, cyberstalking, perjury, and obstruction of justice."
Did Ian Diaz appeal his conviction?
Yes. Following his 2023 conviction, Diaz filed an appeal claiming errors were made during his trial. However, in January 2025, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected his arguments and upheld all of his convictions, keeping his 10-year sentence firmly intact.
Where is Ian Diaz now?
Ian Diaz remains in federal prison serving out his 10-year sentence. With the premiere of A Toxic Love Story, his case has garnered renewed global scrutiny, shedding light on the catastrophic consequences of cyber-enabled abuse and the resilience of Michelle Hadley following her total exoneration.
A Toxic Love Story is available to stream on Netflix now
