San Francisco -
A high-priced call girl killed a Google executive with a lethal dose of heroin and then fled his yacht in California, authorities alleged on Wednesday.
Alix Catherine Tichleman, 26, was remanded to a cell after a hearing to face criminal charges including manslaughter, prostitution, destroying evidence and transporting a controlled substance, according to Santa Cruz County Superior Court.
Her bail was set at $1.5 million, and she is to return to court on July 16 for her next hearing.
Tichleman was taken into custody on Friday by Santa Cruz city police, who identified her as the woman in a surveillance video on the yacht where 51-year-old Forrest Hayes was found dead of an overdose in November.
The video shows Hayes suffering “medical complications” and passing out after being injected by Tichleman - and then shows Tichleman leaving the scene, instead of administering first aid or calling for an ambulance, police said.
“Ms Tichleman proceeds to gather her belongings, including the heroin and needles,” police said in a release.
“The video also shows Ms Tichleman stepping over the victim's body several times as she is gathering her belongings.”
Tichleman stepped over Hayes at one point to finish a glass of wine, according to investigators, who added that she lowered a window blind while leaving to hide the man from view.
His body was found the next morning.
The California woman was arrested on July 4 after being lured to an upscale hotel by investigators under the pretense of meeting a rich man willing to pay well for sex, according to the court.
Tichleman is a high-priced call girl who had an “ongoing prostitution relationship” with Hayes, police said.
She used a “Seeking Arrangements” website to connect with men and boasted of having more than 200 clients, investigators said.
Hayes reportedly met the woman through the website, where a visit on Wednesday found a promise that a “Sugar Daddy” can find “Sugar Babies” for “upfront and honest arrangements with someone who will cater to your needs”.
An obituary in the local newspaper, The Santa Cruz Sentinel, said Hayes had worked at Silicon Valley tech firms Sun Microsystems and Apple before taking a position at Google.
The city of Santa Cruz is a beach community in Northern California, south of San Francisco.
Hayes was described as a family man inclined toward humour and impulsive purchases. - Sapa-AFP