Home / Crime and Justice / Reality Star Clayton Echard Cleared in Three-Year Paternity Case
Reality Star Clayton Echard Cleared in Three-Year Paternity Case
22 Oct
Summary
- Laura Owens pleaded guilty to fraud and perjury charges in 2026.
- A paternity test in 2024 revealed no fetal DNA from Clayton Echard.
- Echard expressed gratitude for personal growth despite the ordeal.
A three-year paternity dispute involving former Bachelor star Clayton Echard has concluded with the accuser, Laura Owens, pleading guilty to felony charges. The case began in September 2023 when Owens anonymously filed a lawsuit, alleging Echard was the father of her unborn twins following a one-night stand. Echard vehemently denied the claims, stating they "never had sexual intercourse."
Owens' allegations escalated, with a paternity test in 2024 eventually ruling out Echard, revealing "little to no fetal DNA" present. Subsequently, Owens was indicted on charges including perjury and fraud by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. These charges extended to similar allegations she had made against another man in 2021.
On August 28, 2026, Owens pleaded guilty to two counts of fraudulent schemes and artifice, one count of perjury, and one count of identity theft. The identity theft charge stemmed from Owens allegedly using another woman's ultrasound image. Echard shared his reaction in a TikTok video, describing his feelings as numb and anticlimactic.
Echard expressed gratitude for his personal growth throughout the ordeal, noting the resilience and community he gained. He stated he would "do it 1,000 times over" because he is "proud of the man" he has become. He also called on Owens to share her reasons, believing her redemption offers more healing than her destruction. Owens is scheduled for sentencing on October 23, 2026.
