A woman from Pierce County, Washington, who built a strong following on Instagram through her car enthusiast content, is now facing a long list of criminal charges after authorities say she staged an elaborate hoax to frame her ex-boyfriend and others for harassment.
Social Media Influencer Accused of Faking Threats
Kristina Breann Ellis, 42, was charged with multiple serious crimes after investigators determined that she allegedly sent herself threatening emails and manipulated evidence to make it look like her ex-boyfriend and his teenage daughter were harassing her.
Ellis is now facing a total of 24 charges, including stalking, criminal impersonation, perjury, tampering with evidence, and giving false statements to law enforcement.
She appeared in court this week, where a not guilty plea was entered on her behalf. A Pierce County judge set her bail at $1 million, and she remains in custody.
Prosecutors: A “Fraud” on the Legal System
Prosecutors say Ellis manipulated the legal system in ways they’ve “never seen before” in the state. According to investigators, she not only tried to frame her ex-boyfriend but also his former partner and his daughter—allegedly creating a false trail of threats and images to back up her claims.
Court documents describe Ellis as a social media influencer in the modified car community, with over 58,000 Instagram followers and a focus on her customized Subaru BRZ.
How the Alleged Hoax Unfolded
Ellis and her ex-boyfriend were in a relationship for over 11 years. She accused him of domestic abuse and received a protection order in 2024. In March 2025, she claimed he was sending her threatening messages and even stalking her online by altering her social media posts with disturbing content.
She said some of the emails came from anonymous accounts using Proton Mail—a service known for being difficult to trace. Investigators say Ellis mentioned she knew this platform was untraceable, raising further suspicions.
The ex-boyfriend was arrested in December 2025 based on her claims and was later released on a $250,000 bond with GPS monitoring. However, as evidence grew, prosecutors said it became clear Ellis likely sent the emails to herself.
Allegations Involving a Teenager
In one of the most shocking parts of the case, Ellis is accused of altering a photo of the ex-boyfriend’s teenage daughter to make it look like she had a black eye and a cut on her face. She reportedly sent the image to a school counselor, triggering an investigation by child protective services. But when the girl was brought in, she had no visible injuries, and authorities determined the claims were false.
Detectives later found signs that Ellis may have created other fake materials, including documents where someone appeared to be practicing writing the teenager’s name and her father’s last name—possibly to make threats look like they came from them.
Faked Photo Sparks Fear, Then Doubt
One image Ellis sent to authorities showed her ex-boyfriend in front of a mirror, holding a knife in one hand and a note in the other that read, “I’m coming Tina.” At the time, investigators believed it to be real, but after learning Ellis had previously admitted to using AI tools to edit her own social media photos, they now suspect the image may have been altered too.
Search of Home Uncovers Suspicious Evidence
When police searched Ellis’ home under a warrant, they found documents that matched the style and handwriting of the fake threats. One paper included the phrase, “My name is Maddie,” which had also appeared in one of the threatening messages.
Detectives also discovered attempts to imitate the ex-boyfriend’s signature and other documents suggesting efforts to impersonate his former partner.
A Pattern of False Claims?
The case records reveal that Ellis made at least 10 police reports against her ex between August and November 2024. While he was arrested once, no charges were filed. One investigator who worked on the case later expressed concern that Ellis may have fabricated much of the evidence from the beginning.
Despite the scale of the allegations, Ellis has no previous criminal convictions.
This case has drawn attention for the way a public figure allegedly used her platform and access to digital tools to create a complex web of false claims that nearly led to someone else being wrongfully punished.
