A Scottsdale woman faces felony charges after authorities say she faked a pregnancy to pursue a paternity claim against former "Bachelor" star Clayton Echard. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced the indictment this week.
Laura Michelle Owens, 34, was indicted on seven felony counts, including fraudulent schemes and artifices, forgery, four counts of perjury and tampering with physical evidence. Prosecutors allege she used fabricated evidence and lied under oath regarding her claim. MCAO investigators stated her actions spanned from May 2023 to June 2024.
Owens originally filed a lawsuit seeking child support from Echard, who starred in the 26th season of the ABC reality series. She later withdrew her claim, asserting she had a miscarriage.
Echard, who has publicly denied having sexual intercourse with Owens while stating they had oral sex, expressed relief following the indictment. He said the legal conflict had been a difficult two-year ordeal. Echard spoke out about the development this week.
The indictment follows a referral from Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Julie Mata, who presided over the paternity case. In a June 2024 ruling, Mata found Owens provided uncredible testimony and presented false claims. The judge stated Owens acted unreasonably by initiating litigation without basis or merit and referred her for potential felony prosecution.
According to the grand jury indictment, Owens is accused of altering an ultrasound image, fabricating a pregnancy video and making multiple false statements while under oath in court proceedings. The prosecution's case aims to chronicle a pattern of alleged deception during the legal battle.
An Arizona appeals court upheld the trial court's findings in April 2025.
Owens released a statement calling the allegations stunning and claiming they resulted from coordinated harassment and pressure following her paternity case. She denied faking the pregnancy and suggested the charges stemmed from online outrage rather than impartial judgment.
Echard stated the indictment feels like justice served and a weight has been lifted. He said he is ready for prosecutors to handle the remaining legal process.