VISTA, Calif. (TCN) — A woman has been sentenced to four years in county jail for involuntary manslaughter in connection with the suffocation death of her client.
In April 2023, 55-year-old Michael Dale met up with OnlyFans creator Michaela Rylaarsdam for a fetish encounter. According to police, Rylaarsdam encased Dale like a mummy using plastic wrap, glued boots to his feet, glued his eyes shut, and put a bag over his head. Court TV reports Rylaarsdam also glued Dale’s mouth shut after placing a sex toy inside at his request.
Rylaarsdam made a video of the encounter to share on OnlyFans. When she found Dale was not breathing, she dialed 911. During their investigation, police learned Dale had offered Rylaarsdam $11,000 to fulfill his fetishes. In their messages, Dale reportedly never asked for a bag to be placed on his head. Rylaarsdam was arrested in 2024 and charged with second-degree murder. She pleaded guilty May 6 to involuntary manslaughter.
At Rylaarsdam’s preliminary hearing, Dale’s roommate said he heard Dale offering Rylaarsdam money to stop the encounter, Court TV reports.
Rylaarsdam was sentenced June 10 in accordance with her plea agreement and will serve four years in county jail rather than state prison, per Court TV. According to her attorney, Rylaarsdam felt bad about the incident from the beginning and had sought therapy for it.
At her sentencing, Court TV reports Rylaarsdam said, “I was going back and forth as to whether I should say something, and if I would say the wrong thing. … But it would be a poor example to my children if I did not. When something bad happens, we need to take ownership.”
Courthouse News reports Superior Court Judge Brad Weinreb told Rylaarsdam, “I know you’ve taken responsibility, but at the end of the day we’re dealing with the unfortunate and preventable death that was caused by your actions. … The actions were so reckless that death was almost certain.”
According to Courthouse News, Cohen said Rylaarsdam will probably remain in jail for just over a year due to credit for time served.
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