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When Angela Connell met Ian Diaz, the pair began a whirlwind romance that quickly led to marriage and a growing family. But their newfound happiness was soon disturbed by a cyberstalking campaign with real world consequences. Angela and Ian told detectives from the Anaheim Police Department that they knew exactly who was behind the scheme: Ian’s ex-girlfriend, Michelle Hadley. But all was not as it seemed…

Team:

Anonymous Host - narration

Eileen Ormsby - research, writing

Erin Munro - research, writing

Milly Raso - creative direction

Mike Migas - production, music

Andrew D.B. Joslyn - music

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Comments

AR

Wow, I've heard this case so often but always before/without the investigation into Ian, and it really does make so much more sense now than it did before. The thing that still always gets me, though, is that Michelle's original emails to him were completely bonkers -- absolutely unstable and arguably indicative of a very extreme personality. Knowing the full picture of the stress she was experiencing helps somewhat to put those first emails in perspective as the outbursts of someone going through extreme trauma. Still, i think it would be really useful to understand exactly *when* Michelle's own wild emails left off and Ian's participation in the framing and gaslighting began. For instance, "Michelle" was sending Ian that series of threatening emails (like the "god's power belongs to women" and the ones telling his realtor that God's law was above man's law, and telling him to "get ready" to face God?!) before he even met Angela -- so was that actually Michelle? Or was that Ian trying to frame Michelle and then later getting Angela involved in his scheme? The uncertainty engendered by Michelle's own original emails really breaks my brain. But definitely positioning them as part of a trauma response helps it all make a little more sense. I wonder if she like, got involved in a very intense religion as a form of coping, or if she already was in a very intense religion (based on the nods to her being sheltered as a kid) leading up to this? Fascinating! Thanks as always for another great episode, guys!

Amber

Was Angela actually ever pregnant?

Demi

Did anyone else's eyes roll real far back every time the prosecutors commended the "tireless investigation" the police did? I'm glad Michelle saw justice.

Bob Trenwith

I'm sure that is a true statement about the right police. They're not all bad.

Suicide Sauce

Anyone who's been within 500 feet of a police officer would disagree. They *are* all bastards.

Suicide Sauce

My heart goes out to anyone who is a survivor of or is currently experiencing stalking or harassment, whether online or in person. As a hugely famous and well known internet personality*, I have often been the target of online harassment and it is exhausting even when "real life" isn't affected. That being said, I LOVE the stalking episodes on Casefile, they're always the most absolutely coo coo bananas stuff and the most entertaining to listen to. (*as many as six people might know who I am if you gave them a minute to think about it!)

Demi

I guess I wasn't clear and should have said "these" prosecutors. I'm not one for generalization and I think Casefile had done a great job showing what good and bad investigations look like.

Ally Jakubicka

I just couldn't fathom a woman using a Craigslist to stage a rape like that. 😠

Nicola Carroll

Did any one else catch it skipping at 27 min and 35 seconds?

Mandy G

I can’t believe I’ve never heard about this before! This was straight up diabolical.

Wyatt Ohse

Ay yo this is a fucking insane story I can’t believe how many twists there are

Alan

Wow. I'm glad that Michelle's got a semblance of a life now, far better than this. She definitely deserves more. Meanwhile, imagine being a law enforcer and not being able to get over your ex (whom you tormented). Though did I hear that right, five years for all those felonies (for Angela)?

Parrots Liz

Did anyone else immediately clock Ian?? It’s always the husband.

Casefile

Hi Nicola, I check and it's not a skipped but just how the word 'a downpayment' was delivered (accented on 'a'). Thanks for the comment!

J. Chips

…could have added at the end of the episode that Craigslist no longer allows casual encounters in their classifieds

AR

That's because FOSTA-SESTA passed in the U.S. and the law was too difficult for them to comply with, though, not because this case gave them an ethical twinge, unfortunately