Ronn Owen's daughter indicted in alleged paternity fraud after claiming “Bachelor” star Clayton Echard impregnated her

Bay Area radio icon Ronn Owen’s family has found itself in the headlines again after his daughter, Laura Owens, faced a grand jury indictment in Arizona on seven felony counts tied to a high-profile paternity dispute. In 2023, Owens filed suit alleging former reality-TV lead Clayton Echard had impregnated her, seeking child support and asserting she was carrying his twins.

Echard, the star of Season 26 of The Bachelor, denied any intimate encounter that could have led to pregnancy and challenged the suit in court. Owens later claimed a miscarriage, but inconsistencies in her testimony and documents—including allegedly doctored ultrasound images and a staged pregnancy video—prompted a judge to dismiss the civil case and forward evidence to prosecutors.

As Laura Owens confronts potential prison time, her father battles Parkinson’s, cancer, and spiraling medical bills—a struggle that has prompted a community-backed fundraising effort to cover his care.

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Laura Owens indicted after claiming Echard impregnated her

In early May 2025, a Maricopa County grand jury handed down a seven-count indictment against Laura Owens, charging her with one count of fraudulent schemes and artifices, one count of forgery, four counts of perjury, and one count of tampering with physical evidence. Prosecutors allege that between May 2023 and June 2024, Owens intentionally fabricated key documents and statements to support her claim that Clayton Echard had impregnated her—actions they say were designed to unjustly extract child support.

Court filings show investigators discovered she had altered an ultrasound image and produced a fake video of herself pregnant, then repeatedly lied under oath during paternity hearings. Judge Julie Mata’s June 2024 civil ruling characterized Owens’ conduct as a “pattern of deception” and dismissed her suit, ordering her to pay Echard’s legal fees before referring the matter for criminal charges. Echard expressed relief publicly, stating on Instagram that “justice is finally served” and thanking county attorneys for “serving up justice” after a “long, tiresome road”.

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Details of the case: Evidence, lawyer statements, and backstory

Prosecutors say the investigation began in July 2024 after Maricopa County Attorney’s Office attorneys reviewed transcripts from the civil proceedings and found “several inconsistencies” in Owens’ testimony and exhibits. Documents on file indicate that Owens initially provided at-home pregnancy tests, a urine test from an urgent care visit, and a lab-processed blood test—all positive—but later admitted under questioning that the video evidence she submitted was staged and the ultrasound image manipulated in Photoshop.

In a June 2024 Medium post, Owens lamented the dismissal, writing,

“Judge Mata in essence dismissed all of this evidence as meaningless,” and accused the court of bias favoring Echard’s celebrity status.

Clayton Echard’s legal team, led by Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, countered that no reputable medical professional had verified Owens’ claims. Video essays and social-media commentaries have dissected the saga, with some pundits arguing the case highlights how fame can tip scales of public perception, while legal analysts warn that fabricating evidence carries severe criminal penalties.

Owens’ defense attorney has pledged to “vigorously defend” her client and explore all appellate avenues, maintaining that she was driven by emotional distress following the alleged miscarriage.

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The indictment against Ronn Owen’s daughter marks a dramatic turn in a saga that began as a personal paternity dispute and escalated into criminal court. As Laura Owens faces up to twenty years behind bars if convicted of all counts, her father’s health struggles and the public fundraising campaign underscore the human dimension behind this sensational Bachelor case.

Regardless of the final outcome, this legal battle will leave a lasting imprint on all involved—most notably on Clayton Echard’s reputation and the Owens family’s legacy. Ronn Owen’s decades of broadcasting excellence now stand in stark contrast to the turmoil his family endures, reminding us that even public figures are not immune to private crises.

Jasmine is a journalist for Primetimer

She graduated with a B.A. in English Literature from Sophia College in Mumbai, where she had the unique opportunity to publish research in social science and media.

Jasmine holds more than three years of experience including an ex-Founder's role at a digital marketing agency called 'Very Weird'. Additionally, she also had stints as a journalist at GrowMeOrganic and Scatter Content. She also worked in the Social Media Management team for beauty and wellness brands, Green Maven and Yoga House Mumbai.

Jasmine is a strict follower of ethics in journalism and stays updated with industry developments in order to improve her craft. She is committed to presenting diverse perspectives, which enriches her storytelling and enhances the relevance of her articles in today’s dynamic media landscape.