Michaela Rylaarsdam, 32, was sentenced Monday in Vista Superior Court for her role in the April 17, 2023 death of 55-year-old Escondido man, Michael Dale. The sentence was part of a plea agreement reached last month that resolved a case which had previously exposed Rylaarsdam to a possible sentence of 15 years to life in prison on a second-degree murder charge.
According to prosecutors, Dale paid Rylaarsdam more than $11,000 to participate in a series of bondage and fetish acts at his Escondido residence. The pair reportedly met through an online platform used to connect escorts and clients and communicated extensively beforehand regarding Dale's specific requests.
Court testimony and investigative records revealed that Dale had asked to be restrained, wrapped in plastic, and have women's boots glued to his feet. Prosecutors alleged that portions of the encounter were being recorded for content intended for Rylaarsdam's OnlyFans account, a subscription-based platform known for adult content.
During a preliminary hearing last year, prosecutors presented evidence that Dale spent at least eight minutes with a plastic bag over his head while also being restrained with duct tape and plastic wrap. Deputy District Attorney David Jarman told the court that Dale had multiple layers covering his head, including a plastic bag, plastic wrap, and two types of duct tape.
Authorities said Dale's wrists were bound above his head, his legs were wrapped in cling film, and his mouth was covered with tape. Prosecutors argued that the restraints and coverings obstructed his breathing and ultimately led to oxygen deprivation.
When Dale became unresponsive, Rylaarsdam called 911 and attempted CPR until first responders arrived. He was transported to a hospital but was later declared brain dead and removed from life support. The San Diego County Medical Examiner ruled his death was caused by asphyxia and classified the manner of death as homicide.
Rylaarsdam was not arrested until February 2025, nearly two years after the incident occurred. Prosecutors initially charged her with second-degree murder, arguing that her actions demonstrated implied malice and a conscious disregard for human life.
The case attracted national attention due to its unusual facts and the legal questions surrounding consent and criminal liability in high-risk fetish activities.
Last September, during a preliminary hearing in Vista, Judge Daniel Link questioned whether the facts more appropriately supported a murder charge or involuntary manslaughter, asking aloud, "When does bondage and fetish turn into implied malice?" Ultimately, prosecutors and defense attorneys reached a plea agreement reducing the case to involuntary manslaughter.
During Monday's sentencing hearing, Rylaarsdam addressed the court and Dale's family through tears.
"I was going back and forth as to whether I should say something," she said, according to courtroom reports. "When something bad happens, we need to take ownership."
She told the court that she wished she could undo what happened and acknowledged that simply apologizing could never be enough.
Defense attorney Daniel Cohen described the incident as a tragic accident and said his client never intended to kill Dale. Cohen also noted that Rylaarsdam had sought therapy following the incident and had accepted responsibility for her actions.
Judge Brad Weinreb acknowledged that there was no intent to kill but criticized Rylaarsdam's conduct as extraordinarily reckless.
"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," Weinreb said during sentencing. "The actions were so reckless that death was almost certain."
Although prosecutors initially pursued a murder conviction, the plea agreement resulted in a four-year sentence that will be served in county custody. Because Rylaarsdam has been incarcerated since her arrest in February 2025, her attorney indicated she will receive substantial credit for time already served and could be released significantly earlier than four years.
The resolution closes one of San Diego County's most unusual and closely watched criminal cases in recent years, a case that forced courts to grapple with the intersection of consent, adult-content creation, personal responsibility, and criminal negligence when a consensual encounter ended in death.
Originally published on June 8, 2026.
