Arizona woman faces new indictment in alleged fake pregnancy scheme

Prosecutors say the second case adds seven felony counts and involves a different victim whose name has not been released.

PHOENIX, Ariz. — A Maricopa County grand jury has indicted Laura Michelle Owens, 35, on additional felony charges tied to what prosecutors describe as a false pregnancy claim involving a second victim, the county attorney’s office said Thursday. The new indictment comes months after Owens was charged in a separate case linked to former “The Bachelor” lead Clayton Echard.

Prosecutors said the latest indictment adds seven counts: two of taking the identity of another, two of forgery, one of perjury, one of fraudulent schemes and artifices, and one of theft by extortion. Officials said the second victim is not being named publicly. The new filing expands a high-profile case that began with a contested paternity claim against a reality television figure and has since grown into a broader investigation of alleged document forgery and false statements. Owens has previously denied wrongdoing in court filings; her current plea in the new case was not immediately available.

According to the county attorney’s office, the second case traces back to a relationship that began in 2021. The man ended things after a third date, and Owens later claimed she was pregnant, officials said. Investigators allege she then produced documents to support the claim. A review of those materials found signs of alteration, including an ultrasound image traced to another woman, according to court records described by prosecutors. The new indictment was returned this week, and authorities said they notified the second victim after the grand jury acted. “These charges are in addition to those involving victim Clayton Echard,” the office said in a statement.

In the earlier matter, a judge dismissed Owens’s paternity lawsuit against Echard in 2024 after finding she knowingly presented a false claim. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office opened a criminal probe at the court’s request. In May 2025, a grand jury indicted Owens on seven felonies in the Echard case, including fraudulent schemes, forgery, multiple counts of perjury, and tampering with physical evidence. Investigators have alleged that from May 2023 to June 2024, she altered an ultrasound image and created a fabricated video purporting to show a pregnancy, then repeated false statements during court proceedings. Owens pleaded not guilty in that case.

Officials said Thursday’s indictment focuses on a different man and a separate set of allegations. The charges include identity-theft counts connected to documents prosecutors say were used to bolster the pregnancy claim, as well as a perjury count tied to sworn statements. The theft-by-extortion count alleges a threat to accuse the man of a crime in order to obtain something of value, according to the charging language summarized by the county attorney’s office. Authorities did not release the second victim’s name, the full investigative file, or all exhibits, citing the ongoing nature of the case. No injuries were reported in connection with either case.

The cases have unfolded in parallel: the Echard-related criminal charges filed in May and the second-victim indictment announced this week. The earlier civil paternity suit, filed by Owens in 2023, claimed Echard fathered twins. Echard denied the allegation and said the two never had intercourse. The case dissolved after the court found the claim unsupported by credible medical evidence and referred the matter for possible prosecution. Echard later said publicly that the ruling felt like the end of a prolonged ordeal; he also said he heard from other men who reported similar experiences with Owens.

Thursday’s announcement did not list an arraignment date for the new case. In the May criminal case tied to Echard, court records show pretrial proceedings have focused on evidence handling, including digital files cited by investigators. Prosecutors said they intend to consolidate overlapping discovery and will seek protective orders for personal data associated with medical documents. Defense filings have challenged the reliability of certain digital exhibits and the characterization of statements Owens made during sworn testimony. The court has not ruled on those objections.

If convicted on the combination of charges across both indictments, Owens could face a range of penalties under Arizona law. Fraudulent schemes is a class 2 felony; forgery and perjury are class 4 felonies; tampering with physical evidence is a class 6 felony; and identity theft and theft by extortion carry their own classifications and sentencing ranges. Sentencing would depend on the outcome in each case, the presence of any prior convictions, and whether counts are ordered to run concurrently or consecutively. No sentencing hearing is scheduled at this stage.

Outside the courthouse, reaction has been measured. Echard, who was the lead on Season 26 of “The Bachelor,” has said the criminal case affirmed the civil court’s findings and allowed him to move forward. “The nightmare is over,” he said earlier this year after the first indictment. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office called Thursday’s action part of an effort to hold accountable those who submit falsified records or statements to courts. Defense representatives for Owens did not immediately respond to questions about the newest counts.

The second case now moves toward arraignment and scheduling, with a judge expected to set future hearing dates after Owens is served and appears in court. The Echard-related criminal case remains on the pretrial track. Officials said any additional filings in the new matter, including a probable-cause statement and discovery logs, will be added to the docket in the coming days. Further updates are expected once the arraignment calendar is set.

Author note: Last updated November 7, 2025.