After a one-night hookup with a fan-turned-client, former Bachelor star Clayton Echard faced an unexpected legal battle — and public accusations that threatened to ruin his life.
In this episode, we unpack the early timeline of Clayton’s explosive case with Laura Michelle Owens, who claimed she was pregnant with his twins… despite his insistence they never had sex.
But Clayton wasn’t her first target. When no one else believed him, the internet showed up and started pulling Laura’s story apart.
Stayed tuned for part 2 and 3 of the "Internet Saves the Bachelor." Be the first to listen on Patreon and PRETEND+ on Apple Podcast.
Credits:
Hosted, Produced: Javier Leiva
Written by: Mackenzie Ames
Additional Reporting: The Dating Detectives Podcast
References:
https://allthebestresearch.com
Dave Neal's YouTube: https://youtube.com/@davenealcomedian?si=buUz1EGyODwQ6aGv
https://justiceforclayton.com/wiki/index.php/Laura_Michelle_Owens_-_Court_Case_History
https://www.reddit.com/r/JusticeForClayton/
https://victimsoflauraowens.com/coverage/
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PRETEND is an investigative true crime podcast about real people who lie for a living — con artists, scammers, and the victims caught in their web.
Hosted by journalist Javier Leiva, PRETEND exposes the human psychology behind deception and fraud. Each episode follows a real case of manipulation — from financial scams and Ponzi schemes to digital hoaxes and emotional cons.
PRETEND explains how and why deception works without shaming victims, combining ethical journalism with cinematic storytelling.
Featured in lists of the best podcasts about con artists and scams, PRETEND investigates crimes of persuasion, trust, and betrayal. New episodes drop regularly with stor...