Dalia Dippolito: The True Crime Story & Ongoing Legal Battle

Dalia Dippolito is a former Florida woman who made national headlines in 2009 and beyond after allegedly plotting the murder of her husband. A former escort turned accused conspirator, Dippolito became infamously known as the “COPS wife” due to her arrest being filmed by the popular TV show COPS. The case culminated in multiple trials, legal controversies, and continued news coverage of her life behind bars

The 2009 Undercover Sting

In summer 2009, Dippolito allegedly recruited an acquaintance—who later turned out to be an undercover Boynton Beach police officer—to kill her husband, Michael. The plan was recorded during several meetings, with Dalia affirming she was “positive, like 5,000 percent sure” she wanted him dead. Law enforcement even orchestrated a staged crime scene at the couple’s home, which was accurately captured on camera—some footage aired by COPS—to gauge her reaction when told her husband was “dead”.

Trial and Conviction #1

The first trial took place in 2011, ending in a guilty verdict for solicitation to commit first-degree murder. Dalia was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The prosecution referenced covert recordings, staged crime scenes, and undercover meetings—powerful evidence that caught national attention. Yet her defense made controversial claims, including that she had been manipulated for reality-TV exposure.

Legal Reversals and Retrials

In 2014, Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal overturned the conviction, citing errors in jury selection and potential bias from pretrial publicity. A second trial in 2016 ended in a mistrial due to a deadlocked jury . Finally, the third trial in June 2017 concluded with a swift conviction—lasting around 90 minutes—resulting in a 16-year prison sentence, slightly lower than the initial 20 years .

The Role of Reality TV and Police Involvement

A unique aspect of Dippolito’s case was the involvement of COPS, which filmed the Boynton Beach police at the exact moment Dalia entered her stung home. Her defense argued that police fabricated the scene for TV—claiming a reality-show angle—but police denied such motivations, stating the scene was genuine law enforcement strategy.

Ongoing Appeals and Life in Prison

After her 2017 conviction, Dalia’s appeal met resistance. In 2019, the state appellate court dismissed her petition, and the Florida Supreme Court declined to review. Even the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear her case in 2020 . Meanwhile, she’s been incarcerated at the Lowell Minimum Correctional Institution in Marion County, Florida. There, she reportedly participates in Bible study groups and maintains contact with her young son, now around four years old.

Personal Life & Tragic Side Stories

Dalia and Michael’s marriage was tumultuous prior to the plot—Michael was a convicted felon on parole who allegedly faced attempts by Dalia to plant drugs in his car so he’d return to jail. When these plans failed, Dalia reportedly explored murder-for-hire as an alternative. An informant (her ex-lover) tipped off police, leading to the undercover operation that would decide the case .

Broader Media Attention

The case received wide media coverage:

• COPS aired a staged crime scene episode titled “Smooth Criminal” in 2011.
• ABC’s 20/20, NBC’s Dateline, CNBC’s American Greed, and Crime Watch Daily all produced specials on the case.
• A true-crime book, Poison Candy (BenBella Books, 2014), explores the plot’s dramatic twists in depth.

Controversies

Dalia’s defense claimed she was entrapped—that police and TV producers coaxed her into criminal conduct and manipulated the scene for broadcast. However, courts have rejected the entrapment defense. The appeals court found no objective overreach from police actions, despite staging crime scenes and handling suspect releases inconsistently. The court also rejected challenges to the admissibility of prior “bad acts” testimony.

The Human Side: Dalia Today

Reports from ABC (Good Morning America) in 2020 revealed that Dalia was not a lifelong criminal; she had no criminal record before 2009. In prison, she is said to be remembered as deeply religious, leading faith-based groups and expressing regret about her separation from her son. Her legal team continues pursuing appeals, hoping for a fresh trial based on constitutional grounds .

Summary & Current Status

Despite legal defeat after legal defeat, Dalia and her attorneys assert her innocence and seek a final opportunity to challenge her convictions.

Why the Case Matters

Dalia Dippolito’s story encapsulates modern legal complexity: undercover stings, entrapment debates, media influence in courtrooms, and intense public scrutiny. It raises critical questions about:

• The ethical boundaries of police deception
• The influence of reality television on criminal justice
• How media coverage can threaten fair trials
• Whether a suspect can orchestrate a narrative to exploit TV presence

Her case continues to serve as a cautionary tale about how law enforcement and media intersect—and why defendants’ rights must be fiercely protected.

What’s Next?

As of mid‑2025, Dalia remains incarcerated at the Lowell Correctional Facility. Legal avenues remain open, though uphill: potential federal constitutional claims, petitions for pardon or clemency, or adjustments to her sentence depending on evolving facts. Meanwhile, her situation maintains true-crime interest—her story shows no sign of disappearing from the public eye.