Alix Catherine Tichelman, the 27-year old high-end escort who was arrested in July 2014 on suspicion of purposefully administering a lethal dose of heroin to one of her clients, has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
Tichelman pleaded guilty Tuesday and was sentenced to six years in prison. Tichelman also pleaded guilty to a handful of other charges including administering a controlled substance, destroying evidence, and engaging in prostitution.
On Nov. 23, 2013, surveillance cameras captured Tichelman standing idly by and drinking a glass of wine while one of her clients, 51-year-old Google executive Forrest Timothy Hayes, died of a heroin overdose aboard his yacht.
Tichelman is now also suspected in another heroin overdose death, that of her former boyfriend, who died under very similar circumstances. Tichelman was cleared after the original investigation, but now authorities may be taking a second look.
“She had gotten out of the shower and found her boyfriend, Mr. Riopelle, lying on the floor, unresponsive,” said Milton Police Capt. Shawn McCarty. “At the time, we had no reason to believe it was anything other than an accidental overdose, and that’s actually how it was ruled.”
While Tichelman was sentenced to six years in prison for her crimes, her lawyers predict she will only serve half that time behind bars.