Santa Cruz, CA – Murder is usually not so sensational a crime as fiction makes it out to be. In mystery novels and television dramas, murders are sometimes a baroque affair, planned out in advance and carried out to exacting standards. The truth is often less titillating. Homicides happen all the time, and for all kinds of reasons, and sometimes for no reason at all. But sometimes the details of a suspected murder are so sensational it can’t help but make an impression in the news.
Authorities in Santa Cruz have arrested a woman on suspicion of murdering Forrest Timothy Hayes, 51, who had previously worked at Google, Sun Microsystems, and Apple. Hayes was found dead of an apparent heroin overdose in November of last year. Alix Katherine Tichleman, 26, was booked on suspicion of murder, prostitution, destruction of evidence, and providing narcotics, but so far charges have not been filed in court.
Police say that Hayes had met Tichleman, who resides in Folsom, on a website called Seeking Arrangements which helps its clientele find “sugar babies.” On the night of Hayes’ death, he and Tichleman were seen boarding his yacht. According to police, video from the yacht’s security system shows Tichleman preparing heroin for Hayes and injecting him with it, then doing nothing as he suffers an adverse reaction to the drug, lapsing into unconsciousness. She then reportedly collected her things and left without calling 911 or alerting anyone to the emergency.
According to our Orange County murder defense attorney, when someone is arrested for homicide there are actually several different crimes that they might be charged with, depending on the circumstances. A murder charge means that prosecutors believe the defendant acted with intent to kill, with first-degree murder being planned in advance and second-degree murder being committed in the heat of the moment. Someone might be charged with manslaughter if prosecutors believe they acted with the intent to harm the victim, but did not intend to kill them.
If you’ve been charged with a serious violent offense like murder, it is important to make sure that you have an experienced legal advocate on your side in court. For you to be convicted, the prosecution will have to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. It is the job of a criminal defense attorney to advise you throughout the process of investigation and trial. If you want to make a deal with prosecutors, a criminal defense attorney will help ensure that it is fair. If you want to fight the charges aggressively in court, they will prepare evidence and arguments to counter the prosecution’s claims. An attorney is an advisor and advocate that stands up for your rights and your interest.
At the Law Office of Michael L. Guisti, our Orange County criminal attorneys have been defending clients in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and other Southern California’s state and federal courts for over 16 years, and we’re passionate about providing our clients with the highest quality legal representation. Our team of skilled and experienced lawyers knows all the best strategies for fighting felony and misdemeanor charges and is available to help you 24/7.
We know how difficult it is when you or a loved one has been charged with a crime and we’re here to help you through this difficult time. Our offices are located in Newport Beach, Santa Ana, Irvine, and Garden Grove, near Orange County’s state and federal courthouses, and we are proud to serve our diverse local community by offering our clients foreign language assistance as needed.
Sources:
Serna, Joseph. “Alleged escort arrested in tech exec’s fatal heroin overdose on yacht.” http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-high-end-escort-tech-exec-heroin-death-20140709-story.html. Los Angeles Times. July 9, 2014.
