Forrest Hayes, 51, was a Google executive living in a $3 million home in an upscale Santa Cruz, California, neighborhood.

To escape work pressures, Hayes frequently relaxed on his 14-meter yacht, "Escape," moored at the Santa Cruz harbor. He equipped the vessel with the latest technology, worth approximately $200,000, including a sophisticated security system with high-resolution cameras. Inside, Hayes spared no expense on amenities, including a leather ceiling and $8,000 chairs.

On the evening of 22/11/2013, Hayes stayed on his yacht and didn't return home that night. His worried family contacted the yacht's captain. Upon checking the yacht, the captain discovered Hayes's body in the main cabin and immediately called 911.

His last 7 minutes, caught on camera

Investigators examined Hayes's cell phone and made a startling discovery: He had a profile on the dating site "Seeking Arrangement."

Police were initially told there was no video from the yacht's cabin camera, but a video had been uploaded to a cloud server. It took three months and a court order for police to obtain this shocking footage.

While police haven't released the video, they detailed the events of that night between Hayes and a young, attractive, dark-haired woman with distinctive tattoos. They described it as a party for two, involving drugs.

Forrest Hayes's 14-meter yacht, "Escape." Photo: CBS

Forrest Hayes's 14-meter yacht, "Escape." Photo: CBS

According to police, the pair greeted each other with a quick hug and chatted before the woman produced heroin and prepared to inject it. After injecting herself, she injected Hayes, who appeared apprehensive but consented.

Almost immediately, Hayes began to struggle and show signs of distress. The woman tried to revive him, patting his face and holding his head as he slumped in a chair. However, she didn't call 911. Instead, the video shows her attempting to erase any evidence of her presence, wiping fingerprints and cleaning up drug paraphernalia while Hayes lay unconscious on the floor. She is even seen walking around the cabin with a glass of wine, stepping over Hayes's body.

The video captures Hayes lying on the cabin floor for seven minutes – time in which medical personnel could have potentially saved his life.

Using the video, police identified the tattooed woman through a matching profile on the dating site Hayes used. She was 26-year-old model Alix Tichelman.

The secret world of "sugar babies" and "sugar daddies"

The wealthy Google executive had encountered the young model in a secretive world where real names are rarely used.

Alix and Hayes met in Las Vegas through an online site based there. But it wasn't a typical dating site.

Brandon Wade, 43, the millionaire CEO of Seeking Arrangement, founded the site in 2006. It now boasts nearly 4 million members worldwide. Wade explains that Seeking Arrangement connects men with young women seeking wealthy companions. However, he denies it facilitates sex-for-money arrangements.

Police Sergeant Steve Clark, who led the investigation into Hayes's death, disagreed. "They call each other ‘sugar babies’ and ‘sugar daddies.’ Everyone understands the implication behind those words," he said.

Wade boasts that his site's membership includes employees of Fortune 500 companies, including Google. 40% of the men on the site are married, spending between $1,000 and over $10,000 monthly on gifts for their "sugar babies."

Luring the suspect into a trap

Following Hayes's death, police began monitoring Alix online. When she posted on Facebook about "planning to return to Georgia," they decided to pose as a "sugar daddy" to lure her into a sting operation.

A detective created a fake dating profile with a fabricated backstory. The investigative team then posted it online and contacted Alix through Seeking Arrangement.

Using the alias "Sebastian," the detective began emailing and texting Alix, hoping to arrange a meeting. Eventually, they persuaded her to meet to discuss prostitution and payment.

Police deposited several hundred USD into Alix's bank account, promising at least $1,000 more upon meeting. Alix criticized them for being stingy, claiming other clients paid double.

Eight months after Hayes's death, Alix returned to Santa Cruz County, this time to a secluded resort. Once again, she carried heroin in her purse, anticipating a meeting with a "sugar daddy."

When police arrived, identifying themselves as the online contact, Alix cried and appeared panicked. They arrested her for prostitution and charged her in Hayes's death.

The dark secret of a sex worker

Alix's boyfriend, Chad Cornell, was shocked by her arrest. Just hours before Alix met Hayes on that fateful night, she had been with Chad.

"We hung out that day, and she told me some old classmates were in Santa Cruz with a yacht and she was going to hang out with them. Later that night, she woke me up with a phone call, sounding very frantic," Chad explained.

Alix told Chad that her friends had been using heroin and other hard drugs on the boat, making her uncomfortable and causing her to leave. Chad heard Alix sobbing, her voice filled with sadness.

Searching for Alix online, police discovered her Twitter account, AKKennedyxx, which identified her as a model, stylist, prostitute, and exotic dancer. Chad was unaware of her sex work, believing she was a successful model often earning $1,000 per job.

Alix Tichelman. Photo: Diaz Digital Media

Alix Tichelman. Photo: Diaz Digital Media

The investigation revealed Alix had a troubled adolescence, struggling with an eating disorder, drug addiction, and self-harm. In her early 20s, she began working at strip clubs.

In 9/2013, Alix's fiance, 53-year-old Dean Riopelle, died of a heroin overdose. She called 911 after finding him unconscious at his home in North Atlanta.

This occurred just two months before Hayes's death. Police noted striking similarities between the two incidents.

Todd, an Atlanta businessman and close friend of Alix, said Dean had repeatedly tried to help Alix overcome her addiction, but without success. On 7/9/2013, just 10 days before his death, Dean discovered Alix advertising prostitution services online to fund her drug habit.

"She loved Dean, wanted to be with Dean, but she had a deep, dark secret," Todd said.

Furious, Dean demanded Alix move out the next day. Alix later told police she was in the bathroom when she heard a crashing sound. She ran to the bedroom and found Dean on the floor.

An autopsy revealed Dean died from a combination of heroin, painkillers, and alcohol.

On 30/10/2013, Alix moved to California. She immediately advertised her services online and found a wealthy client within days.

On 2/11/2013, Alix told Todd she had met a "great guy" and was going to be on a boat the next day, expecting to receive $400 to $500 in cash and a $2,000 check. Todd is fairly certain the "guy on the boat" Alix referred to was Forrest Hayes.

Three weeks later, on the fateful day of 22/11, Alix was with Hayes on his yacht.

‘Not a cold-blooded killer’

Alix faced nearly 20 years in prison on charges of killing Hayes, along with drug possession and prostitution.

Her defense attorneys maintained she wasn't a cold-blooded killer, arguing the incident was an accidental overdose during consensual drug use. They claimed Hayes was eager to participate, even using his phone's flashlight to guide Alix during the injection.

At a hearing on 19/5/2015, with her parents present, Alix pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Through her attorney, she apologized to Hayes's family: "It was an accident, I panicked, and I am so sorry."

Alix received a six-year sentence, but with credit for nearly a year served and a potential reduction from the judge, she was likely to serve just over two years.

Alix Tichelman in court on 19/5/2015. Photo: CBS

Alix Tichelman in court on 19/5/2015. Photo: CBS

Following the hearing, another unexpected development emerged. Prosecutor Rafael Vasquez revealed that Hayes's family had never wanted Alix charged.

"The family did not want this case to go to trial; they would have been very happy if this case had been dismissed," Vasquez explained. He said the family didn't want the video from Hayes's yacht made public, subjecting them to scrutiny and ridicule.

The prosecutor agreed with the defense that Alix wasn't indifferent to Hayes's collapse. "Her efforts to prop him up, to punch him in the chest, to slap him in the face, to lift him up, to hold him, to hug him, show a clear concern. You can also see her crying, and you can also see her yelling to wake him up, which is certainly inconsistent with someone who acted with the intent to kill," Vasquez explained.

However, the prosecutor stated that Alix's crime was failing to provide adequate emergency assistance. She was the only person who could have helped but didn't, instead destroying evidence and leaving Hayes to die.

Alix was released from prison in 2017 and deported to Canada.

Tue Anh (according to CBS)