A California OnlyFans creator accused of continuing to film fetish content while a client suffocated inside his home has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in a disturbing BDSM case that rocked the Escondido community.
Michaela Rylaarsdam, 32, accepted a plea deal last week after prosecutors charged her with murder in the death of 56-year-old Michael Dale, who died following a filmed bondage session in April 2023.
The agreement reduces the charge to involuntary manslaughter, meaning prosecutors concluded she acted with disregard for human life but did not intend to kill him, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.
Rylaarsdam is expected to receive the maximum sentence of four years in state prison at a June 8 hearing.
She has remained in custody without bail at the Las Colinas Detention Facility since her arrest in February 2025.
Investigators said Dale first contacted Rylaarsdam through Eros.com, a website commonly associated with escort and stripping services, sometime between March and April 2023.
Over several weeks, Dale allegedly paid her more than $11,000 for conversations, fetish-related interactions and in-person bondage encounters, according to court documents.
Authorities said the requests became increasingly extreme.
Among the acts Dale allegedly requested were being wrapped in Saran Wrap “like a mummy,” having women’s boots glued onto his feet and asking for Gorilla Glue to be poured into his eyes while a dildo was attached to his mouth.
Rylaarsdam later told investigators that the April 17, 2023 encounter was her first experience participating in fetish behavior.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, she arrived at Dale’s Escondido home around 6 p.m. and observed that he appeared intoxicated. Despite that, investigators said, she continued with the BDSM session.
Hours later, the encounter turned deadly.
Police said Rylaarsdam called 911 at approximately 10:10 p.m. after Dale began turning blue.
Responding officers found her attempting CPR while speaking with a dispatcher.
A roommate who witnessed the aftermath described Rylaarsdam as “super freaked out” during the emergency.
Dale was transported to Palomar hospital, where he was declared brain dead the following day. He was later removed from life support.
The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death as a homicide caused by asphyxia and oxygen deprivation to the brain.
During the investigation, detectives reviewed videos recovered from Rylaarsdam’s cellphone that allegedly showed Dale restrained with duct tape, plastic wrap and coverings over his head that obstructed his breathing.
According to investigators, Dale’s wrists were bound, his fingers were taped and his legs were wrapped tightly in plastic, leaving him unable to free himself. One video allegedly showed a plastic bag over Dale’s head and duct tape wrapped around his face for at least eight minutes while Rylaarsdam continued filming nearby.
Another clip, recorded only minutes before the 911 call, reportedly showed her performing a sex act beside Dale’s restrained body while creating content for her OnlyFans page.
Police said Rylaarsdam denied placing the bag over Dale’s head.
The shocking case sparked outrage and renewed debate over the dangerous extremes tied to online fetish contentand subscription-based adult entertainment platforms.
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