Netflix’s new true-crime documentary Toxic Love Story has reignited interest in the case of Ian Diaz and Angela Connell Diaz, whose relationship became one of California’s most disturbing cyberstalking and fraud investigations.
At first glance, Ian and Angela’s life seemed almost perfect. Living in Anaheim, California, the couple were building a future together. Angela claimed she was pregnant, and the couple reported receiving a series of disturbing emails, which appeared to come from Ian’s former fiancée Michelle Hadley.
According to statements by Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas, the couple said Hadley also pretended to be Angela and responded to an advertisement for “rape fantasies” that provided Angela’s name, photograph, and address. All of this led to the alleged attempted rape in Angela’s garage.
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Who is Angela Diaz?
Angela Connell, later Angela Diaz, met U.S. Deputy Marshal Ian Diaz at a Starbucks in Anaheim shortly after her relationship with Michelle Headley ended. According to the Netflix documentary and investigators, the relationship progressed quickly. Within a few weeks, Ian proposed, and Angela moved into the Anaheim condominium she once shared with Michelle.
Soon after the wedding, Angela claimed she was pregnant with twins. According to prosecutors, that pregnancy never existed.
Investigators later learned that Angela had allegedly carried out several fraud schemes beyond the cyberstalking case. Authorities accused her of faking cervical cancer, pretending to be a lawyer, falsifying doctors’ notes, faking a pregnancy and impersonating two of Ian’s former girlfriends through emails.
She was eventually implicated in the 2016 case when she and Ian reported receiving threatening emails from someone using the name “Lilithistruth.” The messages allegedly threatened Angela, her unborn children, and included violent images.
The couple insisted that Ian’s former fiancée Michelle Hadley was responsible. Mitchell was arrested and charged with charges that could have resulted in life imprisonment.
However, investigators later determined that the evidence pointed elsewhere.
What did Angela Diaz do?
Authorities concluded that Angela had helped create the threatening emails as part of a plan to frame Michelle Headley.
According to federal prosecutors, Angela used graphic language and disturbing images to convince investigators that Mitchell was a serious public safety threat. Prosecutors later alleged that both Angela and Ian coordinated the operation using anonymously registered email accounts, VPN services, and encrypted messaging platforms.
Initially, Ian attempted to distance himself from the conspiracy and even officiated his wedding, claiming that Angela had acted alone.
That story later changed.
Federal prosecutors concluded that Ian had played a central role in planning the scheme.
In 2017, Angela pleaded guilty to charges including kidnapping, false imprisonment, forgery and false reporting of a crime. “Even while pleading guilty, Diaz showed no remorse, compassion or empathy for the victim,” Rackauckas said.
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where is she now?
Angela was sentenced to five years in California state prison in 2017.
She entered prison in January 2018 after receiving credit for time already served while awaiting sentencing, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
According to Oxygen, she completed her prison sentence and was released on July 19, 2020. She remains on parole till July 19, 2021.
Netflix said Angela has since moved to another US state. Her exact location has not been publicly disclosed, and she declined to participate in A Toxic Love Story.