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Milton man's drug-related death could factor in Google executive's murder

NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Police in Santa Cruz, Calif. say the drug-related death of a Milton man will figure into their case against an alleged call girl accused of murdering a Google executive.

Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik broke the news on Thursday that Milton police want to know if the same woman killed a popular club owner.

The deputy chief of the Santa Cruz Police Department told Petchenik on Friday it's likely his detectives will fly to Georgia at some point in the next few weeks to work closely with Milton police.

The two agencies want to know if Alix Tichelman intentionally injected two men with heroin.

Matt Kunz was among Dean Riopelle's close friends in Milton. He says Riopelle's family was shocked to learn the former club owner had died from a heroin overdose and even more so to learn that police think Tichleman, his former girlfriend, is the one who provided the heroin to him.

“Dean was not the kind of guy in my mind that would do anything that would jeopardize his kids,” said Kunz. “He was in no way, shape or form any kind of user of heroin or drugs or anything.”

Santa Cruz police say surveillance cameras show Tichelman intentionally injecting Google executive Forrest Timothy Hayes with a lethal dose of the drug, and then leaving him to die on his yacht.

Just two months earlier, Tichelman called Milton police to report her boyfriend, Riopelle, was unconscious.

Santa Cruz Deputy Police Chief Steve Clark says his detectives will work closely with Milton as they reopen the inquiry into Riopelle's death. He says they want to show a pattern of behavior by Tichelman.

“I’m sure they'll come out with the truth, whatever that may be," Clark said.

So far, Channel 2’s attempts to reach anyone from Tichelman's family haven't been successful. Her sister told Petchenik to call her back when reached Thursday.

She is not yet facing any charges in Milton.