Caught in a Lie | EP 6

Summary

---

Love Trapped – EP 6: "Caught in a Lie"

Podcast: Love Trapped
Host: Stephanie Young (iHeartPodcasts and Glass Podcasts)
Release Date: March 26, 2026

---

Episode Overview

In "Caught in a Lie," Love Trapped delves into the escalating legal and emotional war between former Bachelor Clayton Echard and Laura Owens over her claims of pregnancy, paternity, and subsequent legal drama. Featuring unprecedented audio from depositions, the episode pulls back the curtain on Laura Owens’ sworn testimony, the unraveling of her story, and the relentless online detectives who upend her narrative. At its heart, this episode explores the battle for truth, reputations at stake, and the digital-age collision of private pain and public scrutiny.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Laura Owens' Deposition: The Web Unravels

• Laura Under Oath: Laura is compelled to answer difficult questions about her pregnancy claims, paternity allegations, and authenticity of her medical records.
  • “I’m well aware.” (Laura Owens, 04:34) – on the obligation to be honest during deposition.
• Greg Woodnick Presses Hard: Lawyer Greg Woodnick methodically exposes contradictions in Laura's story, especially regarding emails, medical records, and ultrasound images.

2. The Legal Chess Game Intensifies

• Case Goes Inactive: Clayton learns Laura’s paternity suit is about to be closed due to her and her attorney’s inaction. He insists on further action to establish non-paternity and hold Laura accountable.
  • “I would like to file something to have her prove that she was pregnant, because she won’t be able to – can we do that?” (Clayton Echard, 08:28)
• Putative Fathers Registry: The legal team signs Clayton up to ensure he’s notified if Laura tries to put any alleged babies up for adoption.

3. A Pattern of Deception

• Similar Claims Against Previous Partner: Laura’s tactics eerily echo previous allegations involving another man, Greg Gillespie.
  • “At that point, we were very familiar with her pattern…” (Isabel Ranney, 09:37)
• Doctoring Evidence: Laura admits under oath to altering an ultrasound – replacing a clinic name and potentially other information – seriously damaging her credibility.
  • “I did change the top of that from Planned Parenthood to Smile because I didn’t want him to contact a doctor at Planned Parenthood.” (Laura Owens, 30:22)
  • “Well, it means that you lied in an exhibit. You understand that?” (Greg Woodnick, 31:53)

4. The Shifting Story: Impossible Timelines and No Proof

• Inconsistent Pregnancy and Loss Timeline: Laura tells the court she was “no longer pregnant” without explanation, then claims a miscarriage, but fails to provide any medical documentation or stillbirth certificates required for pregnancy loss past 20 weeks.
• Questionable Medical Care: Laura claims to manage her “pregnancy loss” via telehealth, not in-person care, with vague recollections and no paper trail.
  • “I did an online doctor’s visit.” (Laura Owens, 37:09)
  • “I did do another online.” (Laura Owens, 38:51)

5. Online Sleuths: Citizen Detectives Turn the Tide

• Internet Detectives Mobilize: Figures like Schnitzel Ninja and Megan Fox (the journalist) create new online communities to track and analyze evidence, after Laura has forums banned.
  • “This has been such a group effort… hundreds and hundreds of people.” (Schnitzel Ninja, 48:04)
• The Smoking Gun – Doctoring on Fiverr: During a YouTube livestream, Dave Neal and Megan Fox discover a Fiverr watermark on an ultrasound Laura sent as “proof” to Greg Gillespie in her earlier paternity case.
  • “It says Fiverr. … This is the greatest programming in the history of YouTube.” (Megan Fox, 54:04)

6. Fallout and Setup for Trial

• Legal Team Reaction: The discover of doctored evidence galvanizes Clayton’s team ahead of the coming trial.
  • “They found information that I don’t think any private investigator could have found.” (Isabel Ranney, 54:50)
• Next Up: A Bombshell Teased: The episode closes by teasing a shocking new allegation that Laura will bring up during the upcoming trial—something that could change the course of the case dramatically.
  • “Your testimony now, nine months into this process, is that Clayton had penetrative sex with you against your will, Laura.” (Greg Woodnick, 56:24)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jaw-Dropping Admission:
  • "I did change the top of that from Planned Parenthood to Smile because I didn't want him to contact a doctor at Planned Parenthood." – Laura Owens [30:22]
  • "Well, it means that you lied in an exhibit. You understand that?" – Greg Woodnick [31:53]
• On the Internet Sleuthing:
  • “This has been such a group effort… hundreds and hundreds of people.” – Schnitzel Ninja [48:04]
  • “It says Fiverr ... I looked at it. I'm like, oh. Oh, my God, Dave. It says Fiverr.” – Megan Fox [52:23]
  • “It fits like a glove. It's unbelievable. This is the greatest programming in the history of YouTube. It was like the smoking gun.” – Megan Fox [54:04]
  • “They found information that I don't think any private investigator could have found.” – Isabel Ranney [54:50]
• On Clayton’s Frustration:
  • “I need to hold this woman accountable. I'm tired of people stepping all over me and shitting on my reputation. It's time that I fight back.” – Clayton Echard [10:46]
• Legal Whiplash:
  • “The only sonogram you took in a six or seven month pregnancy. I could only get it from the source. Admission Viejo. Planned Parenthood.” – Greg Woodnick [32:41]
• The Big Tease:
  • “Your testimony now, nine months into this process, is that Clayton had penetrative sex with you against your will, Laura.” – Greg Woodnick [56:24]

---

Key Timestamps

• 04:23-05:35: Laura’s deposition begins; Woodnick’s approach and Laura’s initial slippery answers.
• 06:36-08:23: Clayton discusses pushing for legal action so Laura must prove her pregnancy; paternity case details.
• 10:46: Clayton expresses determination to clear his name and fight back.
• 12:39-13:24: The case enters discovery phase and depositions become central to proving the truth.
• 15:55-16:10: Discussion of Laura’s demand letter for $1.4 million and possible extortion.
• 23:38-31:47: Laura’s deposition reveals contradictions and ultimately her admission to doctoring an ultrasound.
• 35:15-41:27: Probing questions regarding Laura’s alleged miscarriage and lack of medical records.
• 46:06-54:33: Online detective community’s pivotal role; discovery of the Fiverr watermark on a sonogram during a live YouTube investigation.
• 54:50-55:34: Legal team credits online community for moving the case forward with crucial digital evidence.
• 56:24: Cliffhanger with preview of Laura’s upcoming claim in court.

---

Episode Flow & Tone

The episode uses a tense, investigative tone—never losing sight of the personal costs for everyone involved. It toggles between serious legal drama, behind-the-scenes strategy, and moments of crowd-sourced detective triumph, all filtered through the documentary lens of modern reality scandals.

---

Takeaways for Listeners

• The Power of Discovery: This episode demonstrates how truth can emerge from both legal procedure and tenacious citizen journalism.
• The Weight of a Lie: Laura’s deposition highlights the far-reaching consequences of deception in the public eye and the legal system.
• Digital Era Scrutiny: The Internet not only watches but investigates, often with sharper tools (and more eyes) than the parties in court.
• The Story’s Not Over: As new allegations are teased, listeners are primed for even greater revelations—and reversals—when the case heads to trial.

---

Next episode: Teased bombshell testimony threatens to upend everything as Clayton and Laura face off in court.

---

Transcript

[Podcast Host (Stephanie Young)]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

[Redfin Advertiser]

You're listening to a podcast, so you're doing something else too. Like maybe scrolling home listings on Redfin, saving places you like without thinking you'll get them. Because that's what house hunting has become. But Redfin isn't built for endless browsing. It's built to help you find and own a home. Redfin agents close twice as many deals as other agents, which means when you find a place you love, you've got a real shot at getting it. Redfin helps turn saved listings into real addresses. Get [e-mail] own the dream this is

[Martha Stewart]

Martha Stewart from the Martha Stewart Podcast. Ever wonder how to make hosting look effortless? Here's a secret Getting Ahead of the Mess with New Reynolds Kitchens Countertop Prep Paper Just lightly wet the counter beforehand so the paper grips and stays in place. Then lay down the Reynolds Kitchen's countertop prep paper so drips and spills stay on the paper, not all over your kitchen counter. You can roll out dough, prep a party spread, or cook alongside family. When you're done, cleanup is as simple as lifting the paper and revealing that clean counter underneath. Effortless. You can use it for cooking and baking, prep and even crafting, especially when you need extra working space. Because when the mess is already handled, you can focus on what matters the food, the people, and the moment. It may look effortless, but now you know. It's Reynolds Kitchens Countertop prep Paper. Take a tip from me. Wet it, set it, prep it. Done. Make it easy. Make it with Reynolds Kitchen's countertop prep paper, available now in the Reynolds Wrap aisle in Walmart.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone paying Big Wireless Way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying, no judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment. Anyway, give it a try. @mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment of $45 for

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

3 month plan equivalent to 15 per month required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra.

[Danielle Fishel]

See full [e-mail] this podcast is sponsored by Nurture Life. Hey, it's Danielle Fishel from Pod Meats World. And as a mom to two growing boys, I know how chaotic meal time can get. No matter how confident I am with what I'm serving them, my kids will always find a way to call the meal gross or stinky or yuck. It's True, they can be wildly picky about new foods. And with my busy schedule, I don't have the time to become America's next Top Chef. And so that's why I love Nurture Life. It's a meal delivery service that actually caters to kids. Ideal for ages 8 months to 8 years, fully cooked and ready to serve in just one minute. It's the problem solver I've been praying for. It's the top meal delivery service for babies, toddlers and kids. And everything is designed by registered dietitians so you can sleep safe knowing your kids are getting the protein, veggies and nutrients they need while still eating favorites like Mac and cheese, spaghetti and meatballs and so much more. Plus, it's allergy friendly, which we know is clutch. And when it comes to options, Nurture Life has you covered. There's more than 50 nutritious meals and snacks on their menu, from soft finger foods for babies and toddlers to balanced kids meals for when they get older. Nurture Life does the cooking. They deliver it straight to your door. And then you might even have time to eat something for yourself. So now is the time to head to nurturelife.com pod and use code pod for 50% off your first order plus free shipping. That's right. 50% off plus free shipping. Once again, that's nurturelife.com pod and make sure you use promo code pod. Even if you aren't a parent with young kids, you might have parent friends who struggle with mealtime. Make sure to share our Code POD with them. Remember, put your little ones first with healthy meals from Nurture Life. That website one more time is nurturelife.com podpod.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

After months of avoiding accountability, Laura Owens was finally required to answer some questions.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

I'm going to remind you again that you're not really supposed to be dishonest in deposition.

[Laura Owens]

I'm well aware.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

On March 1, 2024, Laura sat for a deposition. The audio you're going to hear in this episode hasn't been made public before. On the other side of the desk was Greg Woodnick, the lawyer who, two years earlier, she'd accused of orchestrating her alleged rape. Woodnick had some basic questions about Laura's alleged pregnancy with Clayton Eckard's twins.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

You're under oath. Are you just going to deny that you ever sent this email? Yes or no?

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Woodnick had come prepared to hold Laura's feet to the fire.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

At what point were you gonna tell my office or your own attorney that you doctored a medical record?

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

The Story had been a viral sensation for months. Not because people thought Clayton was the father, but because people thought Laura was lying.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

You knew the world. Because this is national news, you knew the world, thought you were bullshitting the pregnancy, Right. There's articles about it, correct?

[Laura Owens]

Yes.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Clayton has been very persuasive in the deposition. Laura's story would change dramatically once again. But this time it was under oath. I'm Stephanie Young. This is love trapped.

[Megan Fox (Journalist/Podcaster)]

There's no way out.

[Danielle Fishel]

You'd better believe I'll be raising holy hell, my love if you ever, ever,

[Megan Fox (Journalist/Podcaster)]

ever, ever

[Danielle Fishel]

try to leave.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

By December 2023, Laura Owens would be seven months pregnant. She'd been barred from communicating directly with Clayton, but he was bracing for her next move because she still had an active paternity case in the Arizona family court system.

[Clayton Eckerd]

I ended up getting a notification that the family court case that Laura had opened against me was going inactive, which eventually meant if nothing else were to be filed, it would be closed completely.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

This happened because Laura and her attorney hadn't followed up with the filing. The paternity suit that she'd originally brought to the tabloids would be closed entirely without a resolution.

[Greg Woodnick's Associate (Isabel Ranney)]

It wasn't necessarily surprising that she went quiet. We obviously suspected exactly what it was, and that was the facts didn't align with her legal position, and she didn't know what to do. And we, at this point, had had a good amount of experience with her.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

But it left a big question. Was she still claiming to be pregnant? The last time she'd answered this question under oath was about a month prior. And how far along are you as

[Poshmark Advertiser]

we sit here today with respect to the pregnancy?

[Laura Owens]

I am 24 weeks along.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

In Arizona, a pregnancy loss after 20 weeks is legally a stillbirth, which would require the heavy step of filing fetal death certificates within seven days, which Laura hadn't done. So if she claimed a pregnancy loss now, the math wouldn't add up. She'd already testified to being 24 weeks along. And now if the paternity suit went inactive, there would be no closure, no proof of what happened to Laura's alleged pregnancy.

[Clayton Eckerd]

That didn't sit right with me. I felt it was very unfair that she got to make a false accusation against me and get away with it without any repercussions.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Clayton felt strongly about this, so he called Woodnick.

[Clayton Eckerd]

I said, hey, this case is going inactive here soon, and I'm not okay with that. I would like to file something to have her prove that she was pregnant, because she won't be able to can we do that?

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Actually, there were a couple things they could do. First, they filed a motion to establish non paternity. That means that Clayton wanted a court record saying he was not the father. Here's one of Woodnick's associates on the case, Isabel Ranney.

[Isabel Ranney]

If you have a paternal DNA test that says he's the father, then he's the father. But we had none of that. And because of this fictitious filing, he was entitled to a determination that he was never the father.

[Greg Woodnick's Associate (Isabel Ranney)]

So we notified the court that, hey, we're here and we're doing this and we need a hearing.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Two years earlier, Isabel worked on Greg Gillespie's case with Woodnick. Greg was another man Laura claimed had impregnated her with twins. Isabel decided to try and anticipate Laura's next move.

[Isabel Ranney]

At that point, we were very familiar with her pattern and we knew that she was going to either claim abortion or miscarriage or maybe she was going to allege that there was another assault on her that my boss was involved in.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

After what Woodnick had seen on Greg's case, he felt like Laura was capable of anything. So he signed Clayton up for something called the Putative Fathers Registry. It's a little known state registry that protects the parental rights of unmarried biological fathers, notifying them if their child is being placed for adoption.

[Greg Woodnick's Associate (Isabel Ranney)]

We decided to notify the Putative Fathers Registry about Clayton. Not because we thought Laura was pregnant, we didn't. But Laura was claiming she was pregnant. What we didn't want Laura to do was what we were anticipating, which was claim I had the bachelor's babies and I put them up for adoption.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Clayton didn't know what her next move would be. But with Woodnick on his team, he finally felt like they had a chance to prove the truth in court.

[Clayton Eckerd]

I need to hold this woman accountable. I'm tired of people stepping all over me and shitting on my reputation. It's time that I fight back. And I had heard that somebody wasn't too happy and certainly wasn't expecting that to be filed. And this was like the fire that really was lit under my ass where I was like, I don't deserve this. Like, I'm a good person. I'm not perfect. But I am not a monster. And I'm tired of this bullshit. It's time to fight fire with fire.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

He wanted an explanation. She claimed in court to be 24 weeks pregnant. She couldn't act like that never happened. But on December 28, she tried. Dave Neal broke the news.

[Dave Neal]

Ladies and gentlemen of Bachelor Nation. We have breaking news to present to you right now. An absolutely wild in Bachelor Nation, a source claims she is no longer pregnant and is trying to get her case dismissed that she has in family court.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Laura filed to dismiss the paternity case, and in the filing, she claimed she was, quote, no longer pregnant with no explanation. Did she have the babies? Did she have a twin? Stillbirth? She didn't say. All she said in the filing is that she was no longer pregnant and therefore asked the courts to dismiss the paternity case. But Clayton and Woodnick weren't about to let it end there. It was Clayton's turn to go nuclear, and he took it. He still had the right to have his portion of the case adjudicated to establish that he was never the father. Clayton and Woodnick wanted to go even further to prove in court that Laura was never pregnant by Clayton Eckerd, that she'd been acting in bad faith. An evidentiary hearing was scheduled to settle it. That meant the case went into legal discovery in Arizona.

[Greg Woodnick's Associate (Isabel Ranney)]

We've got discovery rules and we've got disclosure rules that require each side to give the other side all of their information.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

For the first time, Laura's pregnancy would be on trial. Prior to this, all their hearings had been focused on restraining orders and allegations of harassment. This time, the judge would be ruling on if Laura was actually pregnant. All of her medical records could be subpoenaed as part of discovery. And there was another tool in the toolbox. Depositions where both Clayton and Laura would be required by the courts to give a sworn testimony.

[Greg Woodnick's Associate (Isabel Ranney)]

We try to gather data in cases without depositions. In this case, I think it was very necessary.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Clayton's deposition was scheduled first. On February 2, 2024, he showed up to Laura's attorney's office. He expected it to just be him, Woodnick, and Laura's attorney.

[Clayton Eckerd]

But to his surprise, I show up and she's there. But not only is she there, she's there with a laptop. She's taking notes while I'm talking. We had somebody there transcribing the whole thing. All of my words were being documented.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

As you can imagine, this rubbed Clayton the wrong way. Why was Laura there if she had an order of protection against him?

[Clayton Eckerd]

Because it was a legal matter, she could. But if you were so in fear for your own safety, why would you show up?

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Clayton's patience was clearly running thin. He wasn't even trying to hide his annoyance once the questioning got underway. Here's a clip from Clayton's deposition.

[Clayton Eckerd (Deposition)]

Did you recently state during your podcast that the real reason you asked her to come over was so that you could have her conduct a pregnancy test of your own.

That was the other part of it

in front of you, presumably, yes.

Although she would not pee in front of me, but yes.

Understood. And did you purchase that pregnancy test?

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

I did, and let's call it an

[Clayton Eckerd (Deposition)]

ACG test because we know that she was never pregnant.

Well, on the box, did it indicate that it was a pregnancy test?

Sure. I guess that's what they market it as for people that are actually truthful and take these tests and don't lie.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Laura's attorney then asked Clayton if he thought Laura was actually pregnant. And when the test came back positive, Clayton's side of the story stayed the same as it's been since the very beginning.

[Clayton Eckerd (Deposition)]

I had a moment of disbelief, but yeah, at that moment I thought maybe she had actually successfully trapped me by inseminating herself. That was my belief.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

The questioning didn't stop at the pregnancy test. The deposition then took a turn into what actually happened or didn't happen between them that night.

[Clayton Eckerd (Deposition)]

Why wasn't there intercourse between you and Ms. Owens?

[Clayton Eckerd]

Because she said she didn't want to.

[Clayton Eckerd (Deposition)]

So I said okay, and I respected that and didn't push it.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

In this podcast, you've heard Clayton's story and you've heard bits and pieces of Laura's side. But before she went under oath, she made one more move. Here's Woodnick.

[Greg Woodnick's Associate (Isabel Ranney)]

I read it and my eyes bugged out and Clayton's on the phone with me and I'm like, this is weird to me. This feels like extortion.

[LifeLock Advertiser]

It's tax season and by now I know we're all a bit tired of numbers, but here's an important one. You need to $16 billion. That's how much money in refunds the IRS flagged for possible identity fraud. Here's another one in four honest, hard working, taxpaying Americans has been a victim of identity theft. But it's not all grim news. LifeLock monitors millions of data points per second for your personal information and alerts you to threats you could easily miss on your own. If your identity is stolen, LifeLock's US based restoration specialist will fix it, backed by another good number, the million dollar protection package. In fact, restoration is guaranteed or your money back. Don't face identity theft and financial losses alone. There's strength in numbers with Lifelock Identity theft Protection. For tax season and beyond, visit lifelock.com iheart and save up to 40% your first year. That's 40% [e-mail] iheart terms apply.

[Martha Stewart]

This is Martha Stewart from the Martha Stewart Podcast. Ever wonder how to make hosting look effortless? Here's a When prepping for cooking and baking, get ahead of the mess with new Reynolds Kitchen's countertop prep paper. Just lightly wet the counter so the paper grips, lay it down and drips and spills stay on the paper, not on your counter. Cleanup is as simple as lifting it away to reveal clean counters. Effortless it is thanks to Reynolds Kitchen's countertop prep paper. Wet it, set it, prep it, done. Available in the Reynolds Wrap aisle at

[Danielle Fishel]

Walmart, this podcast is sponsored by Nurture Life. Hey, it's Danielle Fishel from Pod Meats World. And as a mom to two growing boys, I know how chaotic mealtime can get. No matter how confident I am with what I'm serving them, my kids will always find a way to call the meal gross or stinky or yuck. It's true. They can be wildly picky about new foods. And with my busy schedule, I don't have the time to become America's next Top Chef. And so that's why I love Nurture Life. It's a meal delivery service that actually caters to kids. Ideal for ages 8 months to 8 years, fully cooked and ready to serve in just one minute. It's the problem solver I've been praying for. It's the top meal delivery service for babies, toddlers and kids. And everything is designed by registered dietitians. Special so you can sleep safe knowing your kids are getting the protein, veggies and nutrients they need while still eating favorites like Mac and cheese, spaghetti and meatballs, and so much more. Plus, it's allergy friendly, which we know is clutch. And when it comes to options, Nurture Life has you covered. There's more than 50 nutritious meals and snacks on their menu, from soft finger foods for babies and toddlers to balanced kids meals for when they get older. Nurture Life does the cooking. They deliver it straight to your door. And then you might even have time to eat something for yourself. So now is the time to head to nurturelife.com pod and use code pod for 50% off your first order plus free shipping. That's right, 50% off plus free shipping. Once again, that's nurturelife.com pod and make sure you use promo code pod. Even if you aren't a parent with young kids, you might have parent friends who struggle with mealtime. Make sure to share our Code Pod with them. Remember, put your Little ones first with healthy meals from Nurture Life. That website one more time is nurturelife.com podpod

[Podcast Host (Stephanie Young)]

we all have different styles.

[Poshmark Advertiser]

I may be into Levi's and you may be into Fendi or Miu Miu.

[Podcast Host (Stephanie Young)]

But we all should be into poshmark.com right?

[Poshmark Advertiser]

Because we can all find exactly what we want to fit our style.

[Podcast Host (Stephanie Young)]

Poshmark has millions of new and pre lived pieces.

[Poshmark Advertiser]

Vintage, luxury, men's, women's, children's, everything from Carhartt to coach. Download the Poshmark app and sign up with code podcast10 and get $10 off your first purchase.

[Greg Woodnick's Associate (Isabel Ranney)]

I want to say Two business days before the deposition, Clayton got the letter.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Two days before Laura was scheduled to sit for her deposition, she sent Clayton a letter. Technically she sent it to Woodnick because she's legally not allowed to communicate with Clayton. The subject line read comprehensive legal notice of intent to sue for breaches of contractual and fiduciary duties. Laura was planning to SUE for over $1 million.

[Clayton Eckerd]

When you get a letter from somebody saying I will sue you for 1.4 million, that is a little nerve wracking to get that email and go is this person bluffing or are they legit and do they have a case?

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Remember back in episode one when Clayton first met Laura as a real estate client? He told her he wrote offers but he didn't actually send the contracts. Well, Laura was dredging that back up and threatening to sue him for $1.4 million over the unsent offers her demand letter had. One Laura would agree not to pursue immediate litigation if Clayton dropped the family court case to prove non paternity and any future legal actions against each other for any claims. Here's Woodnick.

[Greg Woodnick's Associate (Isabel Ranney)]

It might have been the first time I read something and I knew the damage that ChatGPT could cause.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

In her deposition, Laura would admit that ChatGPT helped her write this demand letter,

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

but it also had some Laura elements

[Greg Woodnick's Associate (Isabel Ranney)]

to was just kind of like that 11th hour thing that she would do.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

On Woodnick's advice, Clayton ignored the letter.

[Greg Woodnick's Associate (Isabel Ranney)]

Clayton didn't ruin her life financially because they met for a weekend. She blew him twice. And then he decided he probably made a mistake and he shouldn't be dealing with real estate with her and he tried to distance himself professionally. That didn't cause her financial downfall. Everything she did causes her financial downfall. But it had nothing to do with Clayton. And then to turn around and say hey Clayton, I'll walk away from suing you for $1.4 million in exchange for Something else was, like, laughable. And we laughed.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Laura's deposition was scheduled for 8am on March 1. This was the moment where she would have to answer for everything related to the alleged pregnancy on the record. Greg Woodnick was ready.

[Greg Woodnick's Associate (Isabel Ranney)]

It's in my office in Phoenix. And videographer and a court reporter.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

And she showed up.

[Greg Woodnick's Associate (Isabel Ranney)]

And I had my associate Isabel with me. And Isabel's job was to control the media and exhibits.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Even though Laura showed up for Clayton's, he had no intention of showing up for hers.

[Clayton Eckerd]

For me, showing up would show that. Like, she had me caught up. Like, I can't do anything else right now. I was like, no, no, no. I want my life to look like this little thing. Oh, okay, I'll come in for my deposition, but for hers, Forget it. You know you're not going to catch me there.

[Laura Owens]

Would you raise your right hand for me, ma'? Am?

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Laura was sworn in, and the deposition got underway.

[Laura Owens]

Do you solemnly swear or affirm the

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

testimony you're about to give will be

[Martha Stewart]

the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

[Laura Owens]

Yes. Thank you.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Woodnick started out with a question not about her alleged pregnancy, but about the Bachelor. In his discovery, he'd gained access to hundreds of emails and texts between Laura and Clayton. When Laura had first met Clayton, she admitted to him in a text quote, I know you were the Bachelor, but I don't watch the show. Sorry.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

You completed an application for the Bachelor or Bachelorette? Yes or no?

[Laura Owens]

I don't know if I completed it. I know I shot a video, but I think it has multiple, multiple parts that I didn't do.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Laura admitted that she started an application to go on the show. We don't know for which franchise, but it stands to reason that if she was applying, she'd probably watched the show before my reporting uncovered a second, even more glaring contradiction to her statement that she didn't watch The Bachelor. This 2014 clip is from her father's radio show.

[Ryan Reynolds]

So as I said more than once. Ron Owens, KGO Radio I live in a house. Well, it's an estrogen house. I've got two daughters. I've got a wife. And so the Bachelor is something that is never missed in our home,

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

wouldn't it? Continue the deposition. Moving on to the striking parallels between Clayton's case and Greg Gillespie's.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Just to be clear, you suggested to Greg Gillespie that you would get an abortion if he agreed to date you.

[Laura Owens]

I didn't suggest that. It was more. I mean, he originally had suggested it.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Laura, that's the exact same thing that you did with Clayton, correct?

[Laura Owens]

No.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

I will remind you here that in an email to Clayton on June 25, 2023, Laura wrote, quote, I will not consider an abortion if you don't want to date and see if God brought us together for a reason. Then again, on July 1st, Laura states in an email, you can't say you haven't been given a voice when I have told you that I will have an abortion if we try things out for a few weeks and have a good reason for aborting a child. Wudnick pressed her on this.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

You didn't ask Clayton to continue dating you and discuss abortion with him if he continued dating you?

[Laura Owens]

I said I wanted us to make the decision together and to spend two

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

weeks together, which is, Clayton, date me for two weeks.

[Laura Owens]

I wanted, but it's not date me and I'll have an abortion.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Well, that's exactly what it is. That's what you said in the email.

[Laura Owens]

No, it wasn't date me and I'll have an abortion. It was. I wanted to figure out if. How he would be as a father.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

And you don't think that that email is eerily similar to what you just discussed sending to Greg Gillespie?

[Laura Owens]

No, I think the situations were very different.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Widnick then turns to the ultrasound video Laura emailed Clayton.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

The still that I'm showing you is dated September 5, 2023. That says it's from Smile. Do you see that?

[Laura Owens]

Yes.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Smile refers to Southwest Medical Imaging, a medical practice that does ultrasounds in Arizona. You'll be hearing that name often when it comes to Laura's ultrasounds. Woodnet pulled up the ultrasound video she'd sent.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Okay. Is this yours?

[Laura Owens]

This is not mine.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Hang on for a second. This is an email from you to Clayton, correct?

[Laura Owens]

Yes.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

You sent Clayton an email on October 6, 2023, correct?

[Laura Owens]

Correct.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

And you said, here is my 100 million percent real video. And then you attached a video, Correct? Yes or no?

[Laura Owens]

That's my email. I truly don't.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Laura, does it have your name on it?

[Laura Owens]

It has my name on it. I don't even see what email address it's from.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Hang on for a second. And I'm going to remind you again that you're not really supposed to be dishonest in depositions.

[Laura Owens]

I'm well aware.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

If you pulled up your sent account and you looked at October 6, 2023, in an email exchange from Clayton and you saw in your sent account that you attached this ultrasound image, you would agree. You sent it then, correct?

[Laura Owens]

I'm positive. I Did not send this ultrasound video.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Is this ultrasound yours?

[Laura Owens]

It is not my ultrasound.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

It says it's from Smile, but it

[Laura Owens]

wasn't the same date. It wasn't the same date. I was asked the same question by Dave Neal, if this was mine. And I never. When he was trying to think he could trap me. And I've never said this was mine.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Laura, whose is this?

[Laura Owens]

It's not mine.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Keep it in October.

[Greg Woodnick's Associate (Isabel Ranney)]

October.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Is your suggestion that Clayton, like Greg, faked an ultrasound?

[Laura Owens]

I'm not saying that. I'm saying that people have commented online that my passwords have not been changed in more than three years on discord, and I don't know what has happened with my. Laura, your email.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

You're under oath. Are you just going to deny that you ever sent this email? Yes or no? Pick your battle. Is it yours or not?

[Laura Owens]

This is not my ultrasound. No, it's not.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

To recap, Laura now claims the ultrasound video she emailed Clayton wasn't hers. She also claims she never sent the email at all, even though she'd emailed Clayton on the same day before and after this from the same email account. Then Wudnick asked about the inconsistencies on the ultrasound.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Exhibit number nine is from Scottsdale Medical Labs. This is an ultrasound dated July 7, 2023?

[Laura Owens]

Yes.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Okay. Is that your name on the top and your birth date next to it?

[Laura Owens]

That is my name and birthday, yes.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Okay. And this is the ultrasound that you received at Smile that was presented in the prior proceedings, correct?

[Laura Owens]

Yes, it was. It was. But this was actually at Planned Parenthood.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Okay, I want to make sure I clarify that. Let's start off with the basics on Exhibit 9. Is this your ultrasound?

[Laura Owens]

Yes.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Okay. Did you go into a Smile facility because it is Earmark Smile to get this ultrasound?

[Laura Owens]

I did not.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Where did you get this ultrasound?

[Laura Owens]

Planned Parenthood in Mission Viejo.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Okay, so I don't know Mission Viejo well, but is what you're suggesting that Scottsdale Medical Imaging has a branch in Mission Viejo, California?

[Laura Owens]

No.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

I'm totally confused here. I'll give you a chance just to explain how there's a Scottsdale Medical Imaging ultrasound that you claim came from Mission Viejo, California.

[Laura Owens]

There's not. This was actually taken in. This was taken in Mission Viejo. This was not taken at Smile.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Why does it say Smile on it?

[Laura Owens]

I did change the top of that from Planned Parenthood to Smile because I didn't want him to contact a doctor at Planned Parenthood.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

I'm showing you real, clearly an ultrasound image that you are admitting to having changed information on. Is that true?

[Laura Owens]

Just the top left. Yes.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

This was a jaw dropping moment. Under oath, Laura admitted to doctoring a medical record. She says she's changed the name of the doctor's office and that's it. But her admission opens up a world of possibilities. If she altered this, did she alter anything else? Now, her credibility and the credibility of her ultrasounds was in question. The significance of this admission wasn't lost on Woodnick.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Other than changing the word smile on that exhibit, did you change anything?

[Laura Owens]

No.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

All right, Laura, I'm going to give you an opportunity now because you're three years into this and a year into this case, is this the only time document you've altered?

[Laura Owens]

Yes.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

So every exhibit in this entire history of feigned. Of our position, which is feigned pregnancies. The only document that you're acknowledging having touched via arts and crafts is CE 0183, marked for today's deposition as exhibit number nine.

[Laura Owens]

Yes. This is the only. This is the only one. And I would hope that the fact that I'm admitting that would mean something.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Well, it means that you lied in an exhibit. You understand that? So this is where we go back to this issue of you being able to plead the fifth. You acknowledge you had a medical document that you changed. And you're telling me right now that's the only one that I have to think about?

[Laura Owens]

Yes.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Okay. What software did you use to change it?

[Laura Owens]

Adobe Acrobat.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

At what point were you gonna tell my office or your own attorney that you doctored a medical record?

[Laura Owens]

I mean, as I said, it's my ultrasound. It is my ultrasound.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Woodnick pressed her further and it seems like Laura got caught in her own lie.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

How many sonograms have you had for this alleged pregnancy?

[Laura Owens]

One.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Where was it?

[Laura Owens]

Planned Parenthood? Mission Viejo?

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

If I were to want the original source of the sonogram. The only sonogram you took in a six or seven month pregnancy. I could only get it from the source. Admission Viejo. Planned Parenthood.

[Laura Owens]

Yeah. And I did go anonymously.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Oh. So if I issue a subpoena to them because you're going to sign a consent. When we bring this to Judge Matzah's attention, they're not going to know it

[Greg Woodnick's Associate (Isabel Ranney)]

was you that was there.

[Laura Owens]

I self paid. I mean, I don't know.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Okay. So I'm going to give you an opportunity again because you've got statements under the oath that we're about to get to from the prior proceedings. You do not have to Answer my questions. You can always plead the fifth. Your testimony now is that the sonograms that I just presented to you are not yours.

[Greg Woodnick's Associate (Isabel Ranney)]

Correct.

[Laura Owens]

The one sonogram was mine, and it

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

came from Mission Viejo. But Mission Viejo is not going to have any idea it was you because you did it anonymously. But then you went back and you added your name to it.

[Laura Owens]

No, I didn't add my name to it. My name was on it. I changed the Smile thing. Your name was on it, and I changed Smile.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Hang on for a second. You just told me, Laura, that you were anonymous at Planned Parenthood.

[Laura Owens]

But I changed Smile on there.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

So when I get the subpoena or the records release from Smile, this isn't going to be there because they didn't do this test. Correct. Because you just put their name on the test.

[Laura Owens]

Correct.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Okay. This test, according to you, was originated in California?

[Laura Owens]

Correct.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

And you went in there anonymously?

[Greg Woodnick's Associate (Isabel Ranney)]

Correct.

[Laura Owens]

And I. Yeah, I added my name in the. In the facility name.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Okay, so we're changing your testimony. So it's not just that you originally said you just changed and added the word smile, but now under oath, you're saying you added your name to it, too. Correct?

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Correct. Now, she was admitting to another photoshopping edit she'd made on the ultrasound.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

When you submit records to a court, you understand that you're assigning a verification with them and that there's an expectation of honesty.

[Laura Owens]

Yes. And I don't believe this was ever submitted to court.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Once Laura admitted to altering it, the damage was already done.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

You understand why people may think you're lying about this? Exhibit number nine, right?

[Laura Owens]

Yeah.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Okay, let's move on.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Then the deposition turned to the big question. What happened to Laura's pregnancy? If you remember, she'd told the courts in a December filing that she was, quote, no longer pregnant. Here's Isabel Ranney, Woodnick's legal associate.

[Isabel Ranney]

Okay, so does that mean she was never pregnant? Does that mean she miscarried? Does that mean she had the baby? And where's the fetal death certificate? What does that mean?

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Just a warning to listeners here. The deposition is about to go into graphic detail about Laura's alleged pregnancy loss. In January, Laura submitted another filing with a single line stating that she'd miscarried the pregnancy.

[Isabel Ranney]

There's no other information given, but it just says she miscarried.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Widnick had to press her on this because, as we've said before, Laura had previously admitted under oath to. To being 24 weeks pregnant.

[Isabel Ranney]

So if you're past 20 weeks or if the fetus is under a certain amount of grams. You do have to file a fetal death certificate, and I believe you have seven days to do that.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

This was a huge inconsistency that Laura couldn't explain away. If there were actually babies, it wouldn't be a miscarriage. It would be a stillbirth. And legally, there had to be a paper trail, like death certificates and presumably hospital records. But instead of producing medical records, Laura came to the deposition with a whole new timeline.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

I'm going to move you to exhibit number 56. This is the mom doc records, correct?

[Laura Owens]

Correct.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

And that was on November 14th?

[Laura Owens]

Yes.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Okay. What did you find out on November 14th in this exhibit?

[Laura Owens]

That I was no longer pregnant.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Okay. And you claim you had your miscarriage somewhere between 20 and 23 weeks? Correct.

[Laura Owens]

I don't know quite when the miscarriage was.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Well, at some point your body discharged something if you were actually pregnant, correct?

[Laura Owens]

Yes.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

When did that happen?

[Laura Owens]

I was having spotting on and off throughout, which is why I ended up going and getting.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

When was the blood level? When was. When was the first time you had spotting during your pregnancy?

[Laura Owens]

I think it was August or September. I did an online doctor's visit.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

An online doctor's visit? Laura claimed that when she started bleeding during her high risk twin pregnancy, she didn't go in person to the hospital or a doctor's office. She made a telehealth appointment and adopted a wait and see attitude. Woodnick wanted to know exactly what this online doctor told her. Laura's answer was vague.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

What'd you tell them?

[Laura Owens]

I told them I was having very light spotting and they said it probably was nothing to worry about.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

And was this a gynecologist or was this some nurse on call?

[Laura Owens]

It was. It was technically a gynecologist, but it was an online doctor. Okay.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

And he did not tell you to go get an ultrasound and get checked?

[Laura Owens]

He said if I was concerned, that I could, but he thought it was probably fine and monitor if it got worse.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

So you obviously weren't concerned.

[Laura Owens]

I didn't know what I wanted to do with the pregnancy at that point.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Even if Laura was still processing her options regarding her alleged pregnancy, it's difficult to see her overlook her own well being during such a high risk moment.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

I'm going to turn your attention to the top of the first page of Exhibit 56, patient reports. She passed two sacks which appeared to have a membrane, but denies having much bleeding outside of that. When did you pass Saks?

[Laura Owens]

It was September or October.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Where were you?

[Laura Owens]

I Was at home.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

And you didn't call 911?

[Laura Owens]

I did not call 911.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Did you call your doctor?

[Laura Owens]

I did do another online.

[Greg Woodnick's Associate (Isabel Ranney)]

Who was that with?

[Laura Owens]

It's the same service. I just don't know their name.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

You just said you passed two sacks in October or September.

[Laura Owens]

Yeah. I mean, I don't. I don't remember exactly what it was.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Seems like that would be a very traumatic experience and that you would remember the date.

[Laura Owens]

It was a traumatic experience. But the I.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

When.

[Laura Owens]

When life was traumatic. Last year for six months and I didn't leave the house.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

It's a recurring theme. According to Laura, she was experiencing a major medical emergency, but instead of rushing to the er, she just hopped back online. And once again, the details of who she actually talked to were blurry.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

When it happened, did you think you were having a miscarriage?

[Laura Owens]

I thought there was a very good chance I was having a miscarriage.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

And there is no medical record of that from any Arizona based obstetrician, correct?

[Laura Owens]

Not in person.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Where were you when this happened?

[Laura Owens]

I was at my house when it happened.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Who was with you?

[Laura Owens]

I called my mom over.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Did your mom see them?

[Laura Owens]

Yes, she did.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Okay. And your mom was okay with you just calling a teledoc appointment?

[Laura Owens]

I was not having heavy bleeding with. With it. And so she said to see what they had to say. She did want me to go to the emergency room originally, and I was getting pressured to do that.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

And you didn't. Correct.

[Laura Owens]

I did not.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

And you knew at that point that everyone was saying you weren't pregnant, correct?

[Laura Owens]

No, not everybody was saying that because I was told it could have been clots that I passed, so. And I still tested pregnant for a long time after that.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

So your testimony is two sacks came out of you sometime in September or October, correct?

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Correct.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

You don't know when exactly?

[Martha Stewart]

Correct.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

The only witness is your mom, right?

[Laura Owens]

Only my sister. I sent her photos at the time.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Photos of what?

[Laura Owens]

The sax. Which I deleted.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Okay?

[Laura Owens]

No, I deleted them.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

You just said you sent Sarah pictures. Why did you delete them? Because that would be evidence spoliation.

[Laura Owens]

Because it was extremely upsetting at the time.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Now you're telling me there was a photo. Who took the photo of the Saks?

[Laura Owens]

I did.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

With what?

[Laura Owens]

My phone and I.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Your iPhone?

[Laura Owens]

Yes.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

And now you're claiming you don't have the same iPhone?

[Laura Owens]

Well, no, but, I mean, I. I don't. But I deleted them. It wouldn't have mattered. I deleted it immediately after.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

And then you never followed up with a physician regarding whatever that was. There's no subsequent ultrasound.

[Laura Owens]

No, I did not. I followed up in November

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

during the deposition. Laura wouldn't provide a firm date of her alleged pregnancy loss and there are zero medical records to back it up, at least not from a doctor she saw in person.

[LifeLock Advertiser]

This deposition has concluded. We are off the record at 11:34am

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

nearly three hours of deposition and it was a total rollercoaster. It was confusing and exhausting, and more than anything, it was shocking to see how much Laura was willing to say under oath. But if you think this was a lot, just wait. Because in a few months, there would be a courtroom trial and Laura would change her story yet again.

[Martha Stewart]

This is Martha Stewart from the Martha Stewart Podcast. Ever wonder how to make hosting look effortless? Here's a secret when prepping for cooking and baking, get ahead of the mess with new Reynolds Kitchens countertop prep paper. Just lightly wet the counter so the paper grips. Lay it down and drips and spills stay on the paper, not on your counter. Cleanup is as simple as lifting it away to reveal clean counters. Effortless it is thanks to Reynolds Kitchen's countertop prep paper. Wet it, set it, prep it, done. Available in the Reynolds wrap aisle at Walmart.

[Danielle Fishel]

This podcast is sponsored by Nurture Life. Hey, it's Danielle Fishel from Pod Meats World. And as a mom to two growing boys, I know how chaotic mealtime can get. No matter how confident I am with what I'm serving them, my kids will always find a way to call the meal gross or stinky or yuck. It's true. They can be wildly picky about new foods, and with my busy schedule, I don't have the time to become America's Next Top Chef. And so that's why I love Nurture Life. It's a meal delivery service that actually caters to kids. Ideal for ages 8 months to 8 years, fully cooked and ready to serve in just one minute, it's the problem solver I've been praying for. It's the top meal delivery service for babies, toddlers and kids. And everything is designed by registered dietitians so you can sleep safe, knowing your kids are getting the protein, veggies and nutrients they need while still eating favorites like Mac and cheese, spaghetti and meatballs and so much more. Plus, it's allergy friendly, which we know is clutch. And when it comes to options, Nurture Life has you covered. There's more than 50 nutritious meals and snacks on their menu, from soft finger foods for babies and toddlers to balanced kids meals for when they get older, Nurture Life does the cooking, they deliver it straight to your door and then you might even have time to eat something for yourself. So now is the time to head to nurturelife.com pod and use code pod for 50% off your first order plus free shipping. That's right, 50% off plus free shipping. Once again, that's nurturelife.com pod and make sure you use promo code pod. Even if you aren't a parent with young kids, you might have parent friends who struggle with mealtime. Make sure to share our Code Pod with them. Remember, put your little ones first with healthy meals from Nurture Life. That website one more time is nurturelife.com pod pod.

[Podcast Host (Stephanie Young)]

We all have different styles.

[Poshmark Advertiser]

I may be into Levi's and you may be into Fendi or Miu Miu,

[Podcast Host (Stephanie Young)]

but we all should be into poshmark.com right?

[Poshmark Advertiser]

Because we can all find exactly what we want to fit our style.

[Podcast Host (Stephanie Young)]

Poshmark has millions of new and pre lived pieces.

[Poshmark Advertiser]

Vintage, luxury, men's, women's, children's, everything from Carhartt to coach. Download the Poshmark app and sign up with code podcast10 and get $10 off your first purchase.

[Dave Neal]

Forget whatever plans you have this weekend because you're staying at home and playing on Spinquest and there's never been a better time to sign up than right now. New users get $30 coin packs for just $10. All the table games you love with hundreds of slot games and real cash Prizes. That'[e-mail] S P I N Q U

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

E. Spin Quest is a free to

[Greg Woodnick's Associate (Isabel Ranney)]

play social casino void where prohibited.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Visit spinquest.com for more details.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Laura's deposition happened behind closed doors. It wasn't live streamed and no one online had access to the recording. But the online community remained vigilant and glued to the story, monitoring every digital footprint and collaborating in real time to question her narrative.

[Schnitzel Ninja (Internet Detective)]

One morning I wake up. It was the morning of December 13, 2023 and I'm playing with my son and I see that our Laura Owens has been banned from Reddit. And I just thought, how, how, how is she able to just keep getting this stuff removed from the Internet?

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

That's Schnitzel Ninja. She's the mom turned Internet detective who is making public records available on her YouTube channel.

[Schnitzel Ninja (Internet Detective)]

It was unbelievable to me and it pissed me off and I was like,

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

I don't even know how to start a subreddit.

[Schnitzel Ninja (Internet Detective)]

I don't know what it takes. I have no idea. But I'm going to start one, because no one had started one yet that I could see.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

She wasn't about to sit around and wait. So she got to work, making sure there was a public place where everyone could get together and share what they were digging up.

[Schnitzel Ninja (Internet Detective)]

I was thinking about, what do you do for the name? Well, the other one was our Laura Owens. So it was about her. And I was thinking, this isn't about her. It's about, in my opinion, the people that she's victimized. And the person who brought this to the forest forefront was Clayton. And I had heard Dave in a video say, all we need is justice for Clayton, something like that. And I was like, that's it. It's justice for Clayton. That's the name.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

With the Laura Owens subreddit gone, everyone was looking for a new place to land. She gave them one. And once justice for Clayton was live, it only took a minute for the whole crew to show up and pick up exactly where they left off.

[Schnitzel Ninja (Internet Detective)]

And this is the thing I tell everybody. This has been such a group effort. I don't even know how many people I could say have contributed in different ways. The subreddit has over 6,000 members, but there have been hundreds who have been involved, like getting documents, sharing things, like helping uncover things, doing research online. Hundreds. Hundreds and hundreds of people.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

One of those people was Megan Fox, and, no, not the actress Megan Fox. This Megan is a journalist and a podcaster on YouTube.

[Megan Fox (Journalist/Podcaster)]

I got into Laura Owens because I saw what was going on with Dave Neal and how an independent journalist was being attacked for telling this story, and I wanted to help.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

She initially didn't set out to cover the Clayton and Laura saga. For Megan, the real story was what was happening to another content creator you've heard about, Dave Neal.

[Megan Fox (Journalist/Podcaster)]

Dave was being horrifically misused by this person who was using the legal system as a weapon to get what she wants, which is to silence her critics. She was trying to get a protective order against Dave Neal for just talking about this story that was very public that she had gone to the media about.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Dave welcomed the support from Megan. He was navigating a situation he never prepared for. He was sailing through uncharted waters. Here's Dave Neal.

[Dave Neal]

Megan was one of the first people that knew how to deal with someone coming after you. She's been sued in the past, and she really helped guide me.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Dave and Megan became fast friends. They took to social media, going live to analyze every shred of evidence they could find. The timing was serendipitous because Clayton and Laura's trial was set for June 10, 2024. This would be the trial where a judge would hear evidence on both sides about Laura's alleged pregnancy. In advance of the big day, a witness list was announced to the public. On the list of Clayton's witnesses was Greg Gillespie, the man who experienced something similar with Laura back in 2021. You heard his story in the last episode. And at this point, the Internet sleuths had Greg Gillespie's name on their radar too. Luckily, Dave and Megan had already been digging into past evidence from Greg's case.

[Dave Neal]

We were doing a live stream together where we were looking through some of this information, and we were taking the evidence that Laura had used and putting it on my computer where you can look at it on a bigger screen.

[Megan Fox (Journalist/Podcaster)]

He was doing this thing that he does where he pulls up an image and he's just like, okay, okay, let's, like, zoom in. Let's change the colors. Let's, like, put maybe the contrast, like. And he's really good at Photoshop.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

They poured over evidence that on the surface seemed trivial, but they operated on a hunch that the devil is always in the details.

[Dave Neal]

We noticed that this ultrasound image that she used to claim she was pregnant with twins with Greg Gillespie had, like, sort of a circle mark on it, like a orb.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

The ultrasound looks pretty normal, but on the left side, they notice what looks like a smudge. It's small, but not something you'd normally see on an ultrasound. They were zooming in on it during a YouTube live stream. Thousands of people were watching them analyze the ultrasound, and then they caught something that would change the entire case. Here's the audio from that live stream.

[Dave Neal]

What are we seeing here? What's this? He, V, N? Is this A? Are you seeing this? The hell's going on here?

[Megan Fox (Journalist/Podcaster)]

What is that? Go.

[Dave Neal]

You know what?

[Megan Fox (Journalist/Podcaster)]

Go back.

[Dave Neal]

I never noticed it, and now I can't unsee it. What the hell is that?

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

It looked edited in some way, but they couldn't figure out how, so they started manipulating the image. Here's Dave.

[Dave Neal]

We expand into the image in a forensic tool where you can sort of shift the colors and see if anything pops out. And we start to see letters. It felt like Greek. We don't know what we're looking at.

[Megan Fox (Journalist/Podcaster)]

I go, well, it's a watermark. That's a watermark. He's like, it does. It looks like letters. What does it say? H, E, V. Is it N? We're trying so hard.

[Laura Owens]

We're both looking at it, and I'm

[Megan Fox (Journalist/Podcaster)]

not looking at the chat. Because I'm looking at this image and I'm like, what is that? What? And I happen to look at the chat for, like a second, and the chat is going off. They're like, it says Fiverr. It says Fiverr. I looked at it. I'm like, oh. Oh, my God, Dave. It says Fiverr.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Fiverr is an online marketplace where you can hire freelancers to do pretty much any digital task you can think of. The livestream chat was blowing up, and

[Dave Neal]

someone goes, oh, my gosh. We zoom in further, and we noticed that essentially there was a Fiverr logo. F I V E R R. And I grabbed that logo off the Internet, I looped it right over the image, and it fit dead on. It was the Fiverr logo on this ultrasound.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

This was their reaction in the moment as they realized what they'd stumbled upon.

[Megan Fox (Journalist/Podcaster)]

It says Fiverr.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Oh, no.

[Dave Neal]

Oh, hold on. Hold. Okay, hold on, hold on. This is why you do it live.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

The reality sunk in that they were looking at a doctored ultrasound photoshopped by a hired freelancer on Fiverr. Laura had sent this ultrasound to Greg Gillespie in 2021.

[Dave Neal]

Oh, my gosh. It's so apparent. To see. How the hell.

[Megan Fox (Journalist/Podcaster)]

Oh, my God, are we.

[Dave Neal]

I am losing now. Hold on a second. Does the original have this? Because. No, the original doesn't have it.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

No, the original was a sonogram that Greg had reverse image searched and traced back to an unrelated 2015 blog.

[Megan Fox (Journalist/Podcaster)]

It fits like a glove. It's unbelievable. This is the greatest programming in the history of YouTube. It was like the smoking gun of the entire case, discovered live. This woman actually took someone's sonogram, went to Fiverr to have them do something to it, but then couldn't pay the money, however much it was, to get the watermark removed. And she thought that was good enough to send to Greg.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

The online detectives had found something that was news to Clayton and his legal team. It got back to them quickly. Woodnick was impressed by what people like Dave and Megan were able to uncover, and he credits the online detectives as a major catalyst in how this case unfolded.

[Greg Woodnick's Associate (Isabel Ranney)]

I'd see them culling the information with the community online, and it was dynamic. They found information that I don't think any private investigator could have found. And certainly if they could have found it, it would have cost hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars in resources to get there.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

If Greg Gillespie was called to the stand during the upcoming trial, he could now confirm that the sonogram of twins sent to him by Laura was Watermarked and altered by a freelancer on Fiverr.

[Megan Fox (Journalist/Podcaster)]

That has always been the thing that has blown my mind in this case is the sheer audacity of it. I've never seen anything like it, ever.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Heading into the June 10 trial, Woodnick's team was feeling pretty good. They had the evidence, the depositions were done, and frankly, the case seemed cut and dried. Laura had admitted to altering medical records. Her timeline was constantly shifting, and she never provided medical documentation about what happened to her pregnancy. Now, I need you to think back to the beginning of this story. The night when Clayton and La Laura hooked up. The exact details of what happened that night are only known to two people, Clayton and Laura. Since the beginning, they both stated that the hookup was consensual. But Laura was about to reveal something in the upcoming trial that no one saw coming.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

Your testimony now, nine months into this process, is that Clayton had penetrative sex with you against your will, Laura.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Coming up on the next episode of Love Trapped. Laura and Clayton finally go to court.

[Laura Owens]

Z.

[Megan Fox (Journalist/Podcaster)]

You recognize you've been accused of faking

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

records in this case, right?

[Laura Owens]

Yes.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

And you expect the court to accept a picture of a portion of an alleged record?

[Laura Owens]

You guys got the the results yourselves. So these are yes or no questions. That's not fair.

[Greg Woodnick (Lawyer)]

You're a public figure. You're the Bachelor. That's why everyone's watching today. Are you embarrassed to say who you've had sex with?

[Clayton Eckerd (Deposition)]

Clayton, I think I'm the last person

[Clayton Eckerd]

to lie about who I've been intimate with.

[Narrator (Stephanie Young)]

Thank you so much for listening. Please be sure to follow Love Trapped on Apple Podcasts, the iHeartRadio app, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And please leave us a review. A five star rating helps others find this show. We're grateful for your support. If you would like to reach out to the Lovetrapped team, email [e-mail] that's Lovetrapped. P O dmail.com Lovetrapped is a production of Glass Podcasts, a division of Glass Entertainment Group in partnership with iheart Podcasts. This show was executive produced by Nancy Glass, Andrea Gunning and Ben Federman. Written, produced and hosted by me, Stephanie Young. Our story editor is Monique Laborde. Producer on this episode is Sydney Gladue. Additional production support from Todd Ganz. Our production manager is Kristin Melcurry for iHeart podcasts. Ally Perry was our executive producer. Audio editing and Mastering by Anna McLean. Additional editing support by Tanner Robbins and Matt Del Vecchio. This podcast was developed in collaboration with Danny Passman and Leb Abramoff at Crybaby Media. The Love Trapped theme is composed by Oliver Baines Music Library, provided by My Music. A special thanks to Carrie Lieberman, Will Pearson, Jessica Kreinscheck, Allie Kanter, and the entire iHeart podcast team. And for more podcasts from iHeart, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Megan Fox (Journalist/Podcaster)]

Foreign

[LifeLock Advertiser]

it's tax season, and by now we're all a bit tired of numbers. But here's an important one you need to $16 billion. That's how much money in refunds the IRS flagged for possible identity fraud. But it's not all grim news. LifeLock monitors millions of data points per second and alerts you to threats you could easily miss on your own. If your identity is stolen, they'll fix it. Guarantee guaranteed. Save up to 40% your first year. Visit lifelock.com iheart Terms apply ever wonder

[Martha Stewart]

how to make hosting look effortless? Here's a secret Getting ahead of the Mess with new Reynolds Kitchens Countertop Prep Paper Just lightly wet the counter beforehand so the paper grips and stays in place. Then lay down the Reynolds Kitchens countertop prep paper so drips and spills stay on the paper, not all over your kitchen counter. You can roll out dough, prep a party spread, or cook alongside family. When you're done, cleanup is as simple as lifting the paper and revealing that clean counter underneath. Effortless. You can use it for cooking and baking, prep and even crafting, especially when you need extra working space. Because when the mess is already handled, you can focus on what matters the food, the people, and the moment. It may look effortless, but now you know it's Reynolds Kitchens Countertop prep paper. Take a tip from me. Wet it, set it, prep it. Done. Make it easy. Make it with Reynolds Kitchens countertop prep paper. Available now in the Reynolds Wrap aisle in Walmart.

[Danielle Fishel]

This podcast is sponsored by Nurture Life. Hey, it's Danielle Fishel from Pod Meats World. And as a mom to two growing boys, I know how chaotic mealtime can get. No matter how confident I am with what I'm serving them, my kids will always find a way to call the meal gross or stinky or yuck. It's true. They can be wildly picky about new foods, and with my busy schedule, I don't have the time to become America's Next Top Chef. And so that's why I love Nurture Life. It's a meal delivery service that actually caters to kids. Ideal for ages 8 months to 8 years, fully cooked and ready to serve in just one minute. It's the problem solver I've been praying for. It's the top meal delivery service for babies, toddlers and kids. And everything is designed by registered dietitians so you can sleep safe knowing your kids are getting the protein, veggies and nutrients they need while still eating favorites like Mac and cheese, spaghetti and meatballs and so much more. Plus, it's allergy friendly, which we know is clutch. And when it comes to options, Nurture Life has you covered. There's more than 50 nutritious meals and snacks on their menu. From soft finger foods for babies and toddlers to balanced kids meals for when they get older. Nurture Life does the cooking. They deliver it straight to your door. And then you might even have time to eat something for yourself. So now is the time to head to nurturelife.com pod and use code pod for 50% off your first order plus free shipping. That's right, 50% off plus free shipping. Once again, that's nurturelife.com pod and make sure you use promo code pod. Even if you aren't a parent with young kids, you might have parent friends who struggle with mealtime. Make sure to share our Code Pod with them. Remember, put your little ones first with healthy meals from Nurture Life. That website one more time is nurturelife.com

[Podcast Host (Stephanie Young)]

we all have different styles.

[Poshmark Advertiser]

I may be into Levi's and you may be into Fendi or Miu Miu.

[Podcast Host (Stephanie Young)]

But we all should be into poshmark.com right?

[Poshmark Advertiser]

Because we can all find exactly what we want to fit our style.

[Podcast Host (Stephanie Young)]

Poshmark has millions of new and pre lived pieces.

[Poshmark Advertiser]

Vintage, luxury, men's, women's, children's, everything from Carhartt to Coach. Download the Poshmark app and sign up with Coach Podcast 10 and get $10 off your first purchase.

[Podcast Host (Stephanie Young)]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.