True Crime

Ian Diaz's stepfather asked a federal judge to show compassion when it came time to sentence the former law enforcement officer featured in Netflix's "A Toxic Love Story" ... arguing prison would devastate Diaz's wife and young son.

According to documents obtained by TMZ, Diaz's stepfather -- Mark -- submitted a heartfelt letter to the court in June of 2023, describing Diaz as someone he's known since childhood ... saying he never knew him to be violent or "knowingly harmed anyone."

Doughty says the family proudly supported Diaz through the police academy -- later U.S. Marshals training -- and becoming a law enforcement officer had been Diaz's lifelong dream.

He says Diaz's graduation photo still hangs on their wall.

Ian Diaz from "A Toxic Love Story" was slammed by his ex-wife Michelle Hadley's mom … in a letter she wrote to the judge before he was sentenced to 10 years in prison, TMZ has learned.

TMZ obtained the letter written by Michelle’s mom begging the judge to throw the book at Ian for what he did to her daughter. 

She wrote, "I was that mom who walked my daughters right to the door of their elementary school classes and who checked online for sexual predators in our neighborhood. How ironic that the very thing I couldn't protect my daughter from was corrupt law enforcement."

Michelle Hadley -- Ian Diaz's ex from Netflix's "A Toxic Love Story" -- wrote an emotional letter begging for her ex to serve hard time ahead of his sentencing, TMZ has learned. 

TMZ obtained the letter Michelle sent to the judge to consider before determining how many years Ian would be in prison. 

Ian and his then-wife Angela Diaz were accused of conspiring together to ruin Michelle’s life. The then-couple posted ads on Craigslist with Michelle’s address asking for a man to help her with her “rape fantasy” … in hopes she would be sexually assaulted. 

Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were honored at Sunday's Los Angeles Dodgers game ... and their son, Jake, and daughter, Romy, threw out the ceremonial first pitches.

Jake and Romy walked out to the mound in their custom "Reiner" Dodgers jerseys ... and they hugged after throwing their baseballs.

Rob, a lifelong Dodgers fan, was honored before the game in an emotional tribute.

Jake had previously written in a heartbreaking post that he and and his father shared love of the Dodgers -- and he wouldn't be able to set foot in Dodger Stadium without thinking about him -- so this was definitely a fitting way to honor his memory.

Courtney Clenney has reached a plea deal with prosecutors in the stabbing death of her boyfriend Christian Obumseli ... and his family seems relieved it's over.

The family's attorney, Larry Handfield, confirmed Clenney, prosecutors, and the Obumseli family came to a resolution that will help them avoid a trial. The details will be made public at a sentencing hearing on August 10.

He adds, "Pleading guilty and accepting full responsibility will begin the process of bringing closure to a very tragic life changing event for the Obumseli family."

A delivery driver who claims he was wrongfully detained at gunpoint in the Nancy Guthrie investigation plans to sue over damage law enforcement allegedly caused at his home ... and we've got photos he says back up his claims.

Carlos Palazuelos' legal team provided the images ... which show battered and beaten walls, plus holes in the ceiling.

You can also see scuff marks on doors, what looks to be a fist-shaped hole in the wall, and a cracked door jamb.

Christian Obumseli's family has settled their lawsuit against the Miami apartment complex he and Courtney Clenney were living in when she fatally stabbed him ... TMZ has learned.

Christian's family filed a wrongful death suit against One Paraiso condo … but they ultimately settled before a trial.

According to legal docs obtained by TMZ, One Paraiso and FirstService Residential will cover the costs of any outstanding hospital or medical bills, as well as any liens of that nature. In return, Christian's family has dismissed the suit with prejudice.

A central figure in Netflix's "A Toxic Love Story" told a federal judge Ian Diaz was still "a good man, with an even greater heart" after his conviction ... and revealed she had been barred from contacting him for nearly two years ... TMZ has learned.

In an April 2023 letter obtained by TMZ, Leslie Carlson said bond restrictions cut her off from Ian, his son and his immediate family, calling the separation "devastatingly difficult." The letter was filed with his sentencing materials.

Leslie said she had known Ian for 23 years and considered him one of her closest friends and confidants.

Luigi Mangione is not happy with prosecutors in his state trial ... he says they're doing too much to limit the number of people in court ... and he wants the proceedings broadcast live on air.

Luigi's lawyers sent a letter to Judge Carro on Friday ... and it's clear Luigi is mad that the state plans to partially exclude the public and the press from his trial.

A source close to the case … “The DA’s office never chooses which journalists attend the trial — and they won’t do that in this case either.”

According to the letter, Luigi has a big issue with the fact that the court and the District Attorney plan to hand-pick the reporters who are allowed to attend the trial.

The Michigan murder-suicide not only saw the shooting deaths of two parents and six children, but also the gruesome deaths of a bunch of pets who were found inside the family's "house of horror" ... TMZ has learned.

Ottawa County Sheriff's Office Captain Jake Sparks tells TMZ ... after police and firefighters responded to the Karolkiewicz house on July 24, they found at least 3 dead dogs and one dead cat inside the home. The pets all died from smoke or fire, and there may have been more pets who perished.

Sparks also said the bodies of Kristopher Karolkiewicz, 47, and his wife, Amanda “Mandy” Karolkiewicz, 39, were discovered in their bedroom. The couple's 4 sons and twin daughters -- ranging in age from 5 to 11 -- were found in their bedrooms as well.

Ian Diaz from "A Toxic Love Story" has remarried since framing his ex in a cyberstalking hoax ... tying the knot with an old girlfriend, TMZ has learned.

Sources close to Ian tell TMZ ... Ian had dated a woman named Amy before he dated Michelle Hadley and married Angela Connell Diaz, and they got hitched before the cyber scandal unfolded.

Our sources tell us Ian and Amy secretly married in 2020 ... before he was sentenced to prison. We're also told Ian's fathered children with Amy ... although it's unclear if that happened when they dated initially or since they got married.

Newsmax TV personality Greta Van Susteren claims to have bombshell evidence about how the FBI allegedly bungled the Natalee Holloway case, which resulted in another high-profile murder.

In her Substack on Wednesday, Greta says she obtained more than 1,000 Holloway case documents that allegedly show how Stephany Flores' murder was connected to the Holloway case.

Essentially, Greta argues the feds bungled the arrest of then-suspect Joran van der Sloot in 2010 during a sting operation in Alabama after he collected $25,000 from the Holloway family to tell them where Natalee's remains were.

Ian Diaz may be locked out of Netflix in prison ... but he's heard all about "A Toxic Love Story" ... and TMZ has learned he thinks the doc got him all wrong.

Sources connected to Ian tell TMZ ... he doesn't have access to the electronics needed to watch it, though people have filled him in, and he's disappointed but hardly shocked the film didn't take his side.

Ian maintains he had nothing to do with the emails used to frame his ex-fiancée, Michelle Hadley ... and believes his then-wife, Angela Diaz, acted alone. Sources note Angela pleaded guilty and never implicated him.

Ian Diaz from Netflix's "A Toxic Love Story" is making moves to try and get out of prison ... and he's throwing his former lawyer under the bus in the process.

TMZ obtained a petition Ian filed, in which he argues his 10-year prison sentence should be vacated due to ineffective counsel at his trial. 

Ian claims his former attorney failed to file appropriate paperwork to challenge the government's claims, failed to gather evidence, accept evidence provided to them, and various other things. 

Lindsay Clancy's ex-husband is making an unusual plea to the judge in her upcoming murder case ... he doesn't want pictures of his murdered children shown during her trial.

Patrick Clancy -- who discovered their 3 children dead in their Massachusetts home in January 2023 -- reportedly filed a motion this week begging the judge to not show crime scene pics or allow his 911 call to be played in court.

The trial is going to be televised ... and Patrick doesn't want those graphic details being blasted out into the ether.

7/24/2026 10:09 AM PT -- TMZ obtained audio from an emergency call where one of Nolan's friends claimed their boat was sinking ... and they sounded panicked.

One of the guys who was with Nolan Wells on Horn Island is going back to the Mississippi beach where he was last seen alive -- and where his body washed up -- and video sets the scene.

YouTuber Brandon Tatum headed out to Horn Island with one of Nolan's best friends, Warren Hudson ... and they anchored their boat and waded ashore in the exact spot where Nolan was hanging out on Fourth of July.

They pan the camera around and show the island -- there are a few other boats there on a Monday afternoon -- and Tatum and Hudson push back on folks who think this was some "secluded" island where Nolan went to party with his friends and no one else.