In a bombshell statement released today, Laura Owens — the woman at the center of the highly publicized paternity case involving former Bachelor star Clayton Echard — has issued a scathing response to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office following the announcement of seven felony charges against her. Owens, who has never before faced criminal charges, alleges the indictment is the result of an orchestrated pressure campaign, misinformation, and political bias.
Below is the full statement from Laura Owens, released May 7, 2025:
Laura Owens
Just now
As someone who has never been charged with a crime in my life, I am stunned by the seven felony charges announced against me by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. These allegations appear to be the result of coordinated harassment, misinformation, and public pressure in the aftermath of a paternity case I filed against former Bachelor star Clayton Echard.
Since 2023, I have been the target of a relentless campaign led by a group calling itself Justice for Clayton — a faction of Mr. Echard’s supporters who built an entire narrative on a demonstrably false claim: that I faked a pregnancy. That accusation became their rallying cry, fueling thousands of hours of monetized YouTube content, Reddit threads, and social media attacks — many of which dissected my medical history, mental health, and personal life with obsessive cruelty. The abuse eventually moved offline. The group issued a public death threat against my mother and called in multiple false welfare checks to our home — knowing the resulting bodycam footage would be released publicly and weaponized to humiliate me further.
In June 2024, after the conclusion of the paternity case, the group turned its focus to law enforcement. They launched an international letter-writing campaign demanding my indictment. Just four days after my case was formally referred to County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, Mitchell was photographed smiling alongside a Justice for Clayton member, holding one of their letters that explicitly called for my prosecution. That image was quickly shared by the same group that had targeted me for nearly two years, celebrating it as proof that their pressure campaign was working.
In November 2024, because of my autism, I formally requested disability-related accommodations from Ms. Mitchell’s office. While they acknowledged receiving my request, they never followed up. Under federal law, that isn’t a formality — it’s a requirement. They were obligated to engage in a good-faith, interactive process to determine whether support was needed. They chose not to. That same office has also never acknowledged that I hold a valid Order of Protection against Mr. Echard — issued in October 2023 after a contested hearing in which the court found, by a preponderance of the evidence, that he committed an act of domestic violence against me, and that there was probable cause he violated that order in April 2025.
In the May 2025 indictment against me, despite sustained pressure from the Justice for Clayton group, the MCAO did not charge me with faking a pregnancy. Instead, they are allowing that narrative to linger — encouraging the perception without making the allegation — because they know it cannot withstand scrutiny.
They have omitted the most critical fact: I had lab-confirmed, positive hCG (pregnancy hormone) blood and urine tests from licensed medical providers in their possession. I also took a positive First Response pregnancy test in front of Mr. Echard, which he purchased himself. Yet none of this was included in the indictment, nor was it acknowledged in the press release. For transparency, members of the press are welcome to contact me directly for temporary access to my patient portal to view the records directly from the medical source. The truth is not hidden. It was simply ignored.
These charges appear to be the product of intense public pressure, not impartial judgment. They reflect a system that responded to online outrage, ignored procedural protections, and moved forward based on narrative rather than fact. It is difficult not to see them as part of a broader effort to discredit me, discourage me, and make an example out of me.
I intend to meet these accusations head-on — and I will defend myself, fully and relentlessly, through every step of this process.
Background
Laura Owens and Clayton Echard made headlines in 2023 when Owens publicly alleged she was pregnant with Echard’s twins, prompting a high-profile legal battle and media frenzy. The paternity case, which dragged on for months, eventually concluded in 2024, but tensions remained high. Owens was both scrutinized and vilified online, particularly by a group of Echard supporters self-branded as “Justice for Clayton.”
Yesterday’s felony indictment, reportedly not including charges related to pregnancy fraud, has drawn renewed attention to the saga. Owens’ statement emphasizes that the pregnancy itself was medically documented and that prosecutors omitted key medical evidence from their official materials.
What Comes Next
Legal experts say Owens’ public challenge to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office could signal a contentious courtroom battle ahead.
As of now, neither Clayton Echard nor representatives from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office have responded publicly to Owens’ statement.
This is a developing story. Muzique Magazine will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.
