‘A Toxic Love Story’: Are Ian Diaz & Angela Connell Still Together?
Warning: The following post contains discussions of rape.
The shocking series of events at the center of Netflix’s A Toxic Love Story has left viewers stunned. Ian Diaz and Angela Connell framed Diaz’s ex, Michelle Hadley, for a violent “rape fantasy” plot that led to Hadley spending 88 days in jail for crimes she didn’t commit.
Diaz and Connell concocted a twisted plan that investigators ultimately uncovered. When the truth was revealed, did Diaz and Connell stay together? Where are they now? Here’s what you need to know about Ian Diaz and Angela Connell’s relationship and where they stand today.
Are Ian Diaz and Angela Connell still together?
No, Diaz and Connell are no longer together. They were supposedly expecting twins, but Diaz later discovered that Connell had lied about being pregnant. When investigators discovered evidence that Connell was behind the threatening “Lilithistruth” emails and the “rape fantasy” plot that she and Diaz had accused Hadley of being the mastermind of, she was arrested on January 6, 2017.
Connell pleaded guilty to all charges, including fraud, false imprisonment, and falsely reporting a crime. Diaz annulled his marriage to Connell in April 2017.
Who was Angela Connell’s boyfriend before Ian Diaz?
To paint a complete picture of Connell, the Netflix documentary explored her life before Diaz. Her ex-boyfriend, Jason Rayburn, was interviewed for A Toxic Love Story and opened up about his relationship with Connell, which started in 2013. When they started dating, Connell told Rayburn that she had Stage 4 cervical cancer and was receiving chemotherapy.
Connell refused to let Rayburn attend the supposed chemotherapy sessions with her. Rayburn and former friends of Connell later learned that she was lying about having cancer.
Where are Ian Diaz and Angela Connell now?
Connell was sentenced to five years in prison and was released in July 2020. She has since moved out of California, but details about her life today are unknown.
Following the Department of Justice investigation into the case, which was conducted because Diaz was a US Marshal, Diaz was arrested for his involvement in the twisted plot. He was dismissed by the US Marshals Service in 2023. That same year, he was sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison for conspiracy to commit cyberstalking, perjury, and obstruction of justice. He is currently serving out his sentence in a Texas prison.
Where is Michelle Hadley today?
Hadley has been fully exonerated of all charges after the horrifying ordeal orchestrated by Diaz and Connell. She sued the Anaheim Police Department and was awarded significant damages. She has since had a daughter, who was born the day Diaz was sentenced: March 24, 2023.
Today, Hadley works as a customer relationship management consultant. She has written two books, The Courage to Heal and The Courage to Love.
A Toxic Love Story, Streaming Now, Netflix
If you or someone you know is the victim of sexual assault, contact the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network‘s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call 911.
