A pregnant California woman was stalked at her home and attacked by men seeking to act upon “rape fantasy” ads that her husband’s former girlfriend posted on Craigslist after threatening the couple, according to prosecutors.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office filed criminal charges against 29-year-old Michelle Suzanne Hadley, alleging that she posed as the woman, posting photos of her in Craigslist ads and later corresponding with men who replied and offering details about her daily routine and schedule.
In her correspondence, Ms. Hadley told the men “that the victim wanted the responders to have forcible sexual intercourse with her, even if she screamed or resisted,” according to the district attorney’s office.
Several of the men actually showed up at the victim’s home with the intention of raping her but did not succeed, according to prosecutors. One man attacked the woman at her home, but she was able to call for help and the man fled the area.
It was not immediately clear from prosecutors whether any of the men were charged with a crime.
Ms. Hadley is charged with 11 criminal counts, including six counts of attempted forcible rape, one count of assault with intent to commit a sexual offense, one count of making felony threats, and one count of stalking.
The victim in the case had gotten a restraining order again Ms. Hadley on June 6 prohibiting Ms. Hadley from contacting her. However, prosecutors said that Ms. Hadley sent the victim numerous emails from June 6 to July 13 in which she threatened her and her unborn child and made disparaging comments about her husband, a U.S. Marshal who had dated Ms. Hadley from 2013 to 2015 before he and his current wife were married.
Prosecutors said that Ms. Hadley was arrested on June 24 in connection with violating the restraining order by stalking the woman, but was let out on $100,000 bail and later resumed making the threats by using various computers and servers to hide her identity.
Ms. Hadley faces up to life in prison if convicted. Her bond was set Monday at $1 million, and she is expected to be arraigned on Aug. 19.
• Andrea Noble can be reached at anoble@washingtontimes.com.
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