Silicon Valley Call Girl Pleads Not Guilty In Google Exec's Overdose Death
SANTA CRUZ (CBS SF) — A high-priced prostitute accused of leaving a Google executive to die on his yacht in California after shooting him up with a fatal hit of heroin has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and heroin charges.
Twenty-six-year-old Alix Tichelman entered the plea on Wednesday in a Santa Cruz County courtroom. Prosecutors, additionally, charged her with great bodily injury.
A judge refused to reduce her $1.5 million bail.
"There was no reason for her to kill him," said attorney Larry Biggam hired by Tichelman's family, who was present in court. "He had a lot of money. If any, she had a motive to keep his business. Not murder not voluntary manslaughter."
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Surveillance video allegedly shows Tichelman injecting Forrest Hayes - and later stepping over his body to finish a glass of wine – before lowering the blinds and leaving him to die on his yacht on Nov. 23.
Santa Cruz Police said Tichelman had an ongoing prostitution relationship with the 51-year-old Hayes, who was married and had five children. Tichelman was arrested July 4 after police lured her back to Santa Cruz in a prostitution sting.
Tichelman allegedly worked as a high-priced prostitute and met her clients through a website called 'Seeking Arrangements."
During interviews, Tichelman boasted of over 200 clients, according to Santa Cruz Police.
Police are also investigating Tichelman in connection with a similar incident in Georgia.
"There's a pattern of behavior here where she doesn't seek help when someone is in trouble," Santa Cruz Deputy Police Chief Steve Clark said.
Assistant District Attorney Rafael Vazquez said authorities are still investigating the case and may file more serious charges.
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