Naman Shrestha
Inspired by true events, Lifetime’s ‘Devil On Campus: The Larry Ray Story’ is a biographical crime drama movie that follows Lawrence “Larry” Ray, who moves into his daughter’s dormitory room right after getting released from prison. By manipulating her friends, he manages to take advantage of the insecurities and fears of the teenagers and forms a sex cult. Meanwhile, Larry confides in one of the cult victims, Isabella Pollok. Given the level of involvement in the crimes, her real-world counterpart was punished for it alongside the cult leader.
Isabella Pollok Was Reportedly an Accomplice to Many of Lawrence Ray’s Crimes
While Isabella Pollok was attending Providence Catholic School in her teens in 2010, she got involved in Lawrence Ray’s sex cult at Sarah Lawrence College in New York. At the time, Lawrence had just been released from the state prison in New Jersey after serving time for child custody charges. When her roommates in the dormitory at Sarah Lawrence started associating themselves with Lawrence, he claimed to be a worldly figure who knew how to turn their lives around for the better, talking about philosophy. Through his manipulation, he introduced himself to Isabella, with whom he allegedly spent most of the nights in her dorm room. In his defense, he claimed that he had been helping Isabella with psychological issues.
It was reported that the two grew closer while Lawrence threatened and assaulted several students in the dormitory for years. The reported exploitative behavior continued for about a decade, even after he moved to North Carolina and New Jersey, where the young people followed him. Isabella became a trusted lieutenant of Lawrence and allegedly played a part in helping him abuse the students multiple times. As she managed his finances and bank accounts, she also kept the followers in check, ensured that they followed his orders, and funded him, as per the survivors’ accounts. One of the cult victims claimed that Isabella and Lawrence once came to a hotel room where she had been working as a sex worker for them to earn money. Isabella allegedly was the witness to him assaulting her for hours and threatening to kill her. Ultimately, she was indicted for her crimes in January 2021.
Isabella Pollok Seems to Have Been Released on Parole
Isabella Pollok’s defense counsel claimed that she was manipulated by Lawrence Ray and was one of his many victims. In 2022, the 31-year-old woman decided to avoid going to trial and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Although she did not provide any explanation for her actions and devotion to the leader of the cult, her attorneys claimed that she had been taking sessions with mental health counselors to separate herself from Lawrence’s ideologies and control. As she faced a maximum of five years in prison, her lawyers argued that since she was a victim of brainwashing, she did not deserve to be put behind bars.
In January 2023, Lawrence was finally sentenced to 60 years in prison for extortion, sex trafficking, racketeering, and other charges. In a sentencing memo, her defense stated, “Isabella did whatever Ray directed. She does not deny that she enforced his bizarre edicts and philosophies. Rather, by pleading guilty, she has accepted full responsibility for her conduct.” Meanwhile, she also sent a letter to the judge, where she said, “I am truly ashamed of my conduct and the pain I caused others. I know I committed serious crimes and I fully accept responsibility for my actions…Lawrence’s hold over me changed who I was and it continues to be a healing process.”
Meanwhile, the prosecution argued that she was an active participant and witness in the assault of Claudia Drury, who was forced to work as a sex worker. On February 22, 2023, her sentencing hearing took place. Isabella took the stand and claimed to have been a victim of Lawrence, who controlled her in many ways. She apologized and expressed her regrets, stating, “I badly hurt my friends, and I am ashamed and deeply regret it. I am truly sorry.” In the end, she was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for her involvement in the crime. As of today, the 34-year-old convict has been out on parole since July 21, 2025.
Read More: Where is Claudia Drury Now? Update on Lawrence Ray’s Cult Survivor
