SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — An alleged high-end prostitute accused of injecting heroin into a Google executive on his yacht in Santa Cruz and leaving him to die when he overdosed appeared 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. She is being held on $1.5 million bail.
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 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.
Tichelman’s attorney, Diana August, did not immediately return a call seeking comment. 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 police said a detective lured her back to the Santa Cruz area by posing as a potential client and reaching agreement on a price of more than $1,000.
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.
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And here, I thought repeat business was the point-- no?
jw1
“…which purports to connect wealthy men and women with attractive companions.”
Only if I squint really, really hard.
“step over the 51-year-old victim’s body to finish a glass of wine”
Somewhere, a screenwriter is typing as fast as they can.
Innocence and remorse fairly drip from the mugshot.
Expensive prostitutes? Heroin? “his 50-foot yacht, Escape”
Well, he got what he was searching for: the ultimate escape.
I just read elsewhere that he was married and a father of five children, but I guess that wasn’t enough for him. What an idiot.
I feel sorry for his family, and especially his spouse. How do you explain to the kids that “Daddy’s not here any more because he wanted to screw hookers and do smack instead of reading you bedtime stories and helping you with your homework.”