Escort was ‘ice cold’ in Google exec’s heroin overdose, police say

A high-priced escort accused of killing a Silicon Valley tech executive with an overdose of heroin on his yacht deliberately failed to help him because she’s “ice cold,” a Santa Cruz police official said.

Alix Tichelman, 26, is accused of having an “ongoing prostitution relationship” with Forrest Hayes, 51, a former Apple, Google and Sun Microsystems engineer who owned a 50-foot yacht.

It was on the yacht that police say Tichelman injected herself with heroin and then administered a dose to Hayes, who subsequently slipped into unconsciousness and collapsed. As he lay there dying, Tichelman allegedly cleaned up the scene and picked up her needles, drugs, fixed up the bed and stepped over Hayes’ body to finish a glass of wine.

Police say she tried to wipe her prints off the glass and closed the yacht blinds so no one could see inside.

Hayes’ body was found the next morning by the ship’s captain.

“She’s cold. Ice cold,” said Santa Cruz police Deputy Chief Steve Clark. “The only person Alix Tichelman cares about is Alix Tichelman.”

Tichelman has been charged with manslaughter, four drug-related felonies and three misdemeanors of prostitution and destroying evidence. She was arrested July 4 when investigators lured her to a tony Santa Cruz resort under the guise of being a client willing to pay $1,000 for her company.

During interviews with police detectives, Tichelman boasted of having a clientele of more than 200 “wealthy and influential individuals,” Clark said. She also had a needle full of heroin and extra supply in her purse, he said.

The circumstances of Hayes’ death have prompted police in Georgia to reexamine the case of 53-year-old Dean Riopelle, who died in the presence of Tichelman in Atlanta in 2013.

Riopelle, president of the Masquerade club, died of an accidental heroin and alcohol overdose while Tichelman, whom he was dating, was in the shower, police in Milton, Ga., said. She told authorities she heard a “loud crash” and stepped out and found Riopelle unconscious.

Milton police Capt. Shawn McCarty said they are “reexamining the case to make sure that we did not miss anything” in light of the charges filed against her in the Santa Cruz case.

Tichelman’s arraignment in Santa Cruz County is scheduled for July 16.

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