An OnlyFans model, Michaela Rylaarsdam, has been sentenced to four years in prison after a BDSM session with a client ended in tragedy, resulting in his death.
Rylaarsdam received the sentence after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Dale, who reportedly suffocated during a paid BDSM encounter at his home in Escondido, California.
According to prosecutors, Dale died after Rylaarsdam placed a plastic bag, plastic wrap and duct tape over his head as part of the session. Authorities said his limbs were restrained, preventing him from removing the coverings, and he was unable to breathe for several minutes before emergency services were contacted.
The incident occurred in April 2023 after Dale allegedly paid the content creator $11,000 for the encounter. He was later declared brain-dead and subsequently died from his injuries.
During sentencing, an emotional Rylaarsdam apologised to Dale’s family, telling the court that words could not adequately express her remorse.
“There are no words. ‘I’m sorry’ is not enough,” she said. “The desire to go back and undo this would be at the top.”
Her defence lawyer argued that the death was accidental and that she never intended to harm her client. The lawyer also noted that she contacted emergency services immediately after realising something had gone wrong.
“There was no intent to kill and no attempt to cover this up,” the attorney told the court.
Despite the encounter being consensual, authorities maintained that consent did not remove responsibility for actions that ultimately led to Dale’s death.
Rylaarsdam, who is a married mother of three, will serve a four-year prison sentence following the court’s ruling.