In Part 1, we uncovered the chilling beginnings of Michelle Hadley’s nightmare: a barrage of threatening emails and a shocking arrest that turned her from victim to accused stalker. Now, in Part 2, the story takes a darker turn.
Host Kerrie Droban unpacks the lies, manipulation, and coercive control at the heart of the case. As investigators dig deeper, the “perfect victim” narrative begins to crumble, exposing a twisted conspiracy that nearly destroyed Michelle’s life.
👉 Don’t miss Part 2 of this four-part series, where the truth begins to emerge—and the real stalker’s identity comes into focus.
Opening Recap — Michelle Hadley’s nightmare begins: threats, suspicion, and wrongful blame.
Escalation of Emails — Violent fantasies and chilling threats surface, intensifying fear and suspicion.
Investigators’ Blind Spot — Why law enforcement turned against Michelle instead of protecting her.
The Villain Emerges — Early signs pointing to the real stalker and the mechanics of the frame job.
Psychological Analysis — How coercive control, obsession, and image manipulation drove the conspiracy.
Public Perception vs. Reality — How media narratives reinforced Michelle’s vilification.
Closing Reflection — The danger of false accusations and how easily a life can be destroyed by lies.
Cyberstalking as a Weapon: Technology becomes the perfect cover for manipulation and coercive control.
The Power of Perception: Law enforcement and the media were quick to believe the wrong story.
Obsession Turns Deadly: At the heart of the case was a dangerous obsession masked as love.
Victim Becomes Villain: Michelle’s ordeal highlights how easily survivors can be re-cast as perpetrators.
Warning Signs Ignored: Red flags of deceit and coercion were overlooked until it was almost too late.
This episode shows how a nightmare built on lies nearly cost an innocent woman her freedom. It’s a chilling reminder of how cyberstalking cases can be misunderstood—and how survivors must fight not just their abusers, but the narratives that surround them.
CREDITS:
Music/Scoring: https://www.4qproductions.com
Sound Design/Audio Production: Sergei K. Droban Productions
Creative Direction: Sergei K. Droban Productions
Narration--Kerrie Droban
RESOURCES
United States of United States of American v. Ian R Diaz – Government’s trial
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.