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Alix Tichelman

California prostitute pleads guilty to killing Google exec

Marco della Cava
USA TODAY

In this July 9, 2014 file photo, Alix Tichelman, left, of Folsom, Calif., confers with public defender Diane August during her arraignment in Santa Cruz Superior Court in Santa Cruz, Calif.

SAN FRANCISCO – A case that captivated Silicon Valley due to its overlapping themes of tech, drugs and prostitution has come to a close, with Alix Tichelman pleading guilty Tuesday to involuntary manslaughter and administering drugs to a former Google executive.

Tichelman was sentenced to six years in prison by a Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge in the death of Forrest Hayes, whose success at the search company and other tech firms had led the Santa Cruz-based family man to a world of fast cars and sleek yachts.

He died on his boat in November 2013 after a night of sex and injected heroin. An on-board video camera captured Tichelman stepping over Hayes' prone body while tidying up the yacht before leaving the scene.

Tichelman could have received up to 15 years if she had been found guilty of felony manslaughter. Defense attorney Larry Biggam said Tichelman was relieved to have the court proceedings behind her and she is expected to serve only three years. She will be credited for nearly a year already served. Tichelman agreed to the plea deal in light of the evidence, he said.

"It was an accidental overdose between two consenting adults,'' he said.

Prosecutor Rafael Vazquez was not immediately available for comment.

Contributing: Associated Press

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