Prostitute Charged With Manslaughter In Heroin Death Of Google Executive
SANTA CRUZ (CBS SF) — A woman who has admitted to being a prostitute accused of injecting heroin into a Google executive on his yacht in Santa Cruz and leaving him to die when he overdosed on a yacht in the Santa Cruz harbor made her first appearance in court on Wednesday on manslaughter and heroin charges.
Alix Tichelman, 26, in handcuffs and a red jumpsuit, did not enter a plea and was appointed a public defender.
Prosecutors reduced the charges from second-degree murder to manslaughter.
RAW VIDEO: Alix Tichelman Court Hearing • Prosecutor Remarks Outside Court
Surveillance footage from the yacht shows Tichelman gather her belongings, including the heroin and needles, step over the 51-year-old victim's body to finish a glass of wine and then lower a blind to conceal the body from view before leaving the boat, Santa Cruz police said.
Police said Tichelman, of Folsom, did not provide first aid or call 911 as the man, identified as Forrest Timothy Hayes, suffered medical complications and went unconscious during the November overdose aboard his 50-foot yacht, Escape. His body was discovered the next morning by the boat's captain, police said.
Police are also investigating Tichelman in connection with a similar incident in another state, Santa Cruz Deputy Police Chief Steve Clark said. He did not elaborate.
"There's a pattern of behavior here where she doesn't seek help when someone is in trouble," he said.
Assistant District Attorney Rafael Vazquez said authorities are still investigating the case and may file more serious charges.
Tichelman was arrested on July 4 after a detective lured her back to the Santa Cruz area by posing as a potential client.
Police said Tichelman, who boasted she had more than 200 clients, met her clients through the website, SeekingArrangement.com, which purports to connect wealthy men and women with attractive companions. Her clients included other Silicon Valley executives, Clark said.
She is being held on $1.5 million bail. Diana August, Tichelman's attorney, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
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