Murder With My Husband
Episode 285: Murder On The Yacht
Date: September 8, 2025
Hosts: Payton Moreland & Garrett Moreland
Episode Overview
In this true crime episode, Payton and Garrett delve into the 2013 mysterious death of Forrest Hayes, a high-ranking Google executive, who was found deceased on his luxury yacht in Santa Cruz, California. The case winds through secrets, double lives, drugs, and the perils of chasing excitement outside of a seemingly perfect existence. As the story unfolds, another suspicious death in the mystery woman's past raises even more questions about coincidence, addiction, and responsibility.
Major Discussion Points & Insights
1. Introduction and Banter (01:07–05:25)
- Hosts’ Personal Banter: Payton and Garrett open with their usual lighthearted dynamic, joking about a recent domestic mishap involving tweezers and a minor injury to Garrett.
- Quote: "Well, Peyton stabbed me with tweezers, bro." —Garrett (01:40)
- Quote: "Stabbed is crazy." —Payton (01:49)
2. The “Perfect Life” and Introduction to Forrest Hayes (05:25–10:26)
- Payton sets up the theme, exploring the societal idea of a perfect life and the human impulse to seek more or add risk once routine sets in.
- Quote: "Are we ever really satisfied with what we have or are we self-sabotaging creatures always looking to achieve the next big goal?" —Payton (06:38)
- Forrest Hayes: Harvard-educated, worked at Apple, Ford, and Google; was leading secretive projects at Google X, including the self-driving car program.
- Deeply valued family life; described as having "reasonable judgment" and being calm, practical, and respected.
- Quote: “The only time he would really see Forrest upset was when something was taking time away from him and his family.” —Payton (09:34)
3. The Night of the Crime (10:26–13:15)
- Forrest, enjoying his expensive yacht (named "Escape"), spent the evening of November 22, 2013, onboard to unwind.
- When he didn’t come home, his wife Denise requested the boat captain check on him. Forrest was found dead; cause of death initially ruled as an accidental heroin overdose.
- Quote: “The Santa Cruz county coroner rules the death is accidental.” —Payton (13:04)
- Both hosts are surprised—a hard-working, responsible executive using heroin seems out of character.
4. Uncovering the Truth (16:28–22:26)
- Suspicion aroused: Two used wine glasses found onboard suggest company; captain reportedly cleaned up before police arrived and was hesitant to give security footage.
- Security Footage: Shows a woman with long black hair and tattoos joining Forrest; she prepares and injects heroin into both herself and Forrest. Forrest collapses; rather than helping, the woman wipes fingerprints, finishes wine, and leaves calmly.
- Quote: “[She] literally steps over his body, his dying body on the floor. With a glass of wine still in her hand...” —Payton (21:58)
- Garrett suggests her high state influenced actions, while Payton points out her criminal liability.
5. The Mystery Woman: Alex Tickleman (23:08–27:56)
- Background: 26-year-old Alex Tickleman, dual Canadian/American citizenship, troubled youth, affluent family, trauma from her father's double life, and history at troubled teen facilities.
- Descent into Addiction & Sex Work: Engaged in exotic dancing and later sex work via SeekingArrangement.com to afford her heroin habit. Notably, she once wrote a poem on Facebook foreshadowing a grim fate.
- Quote: "I'll end up dying alone." —Alex's poem (26:09)
- Connection to Forrest: Had met once before (he paid $3,000 for lunch; used alias “Tim”), and for their second meeting he requested heroin for "a little party on his yacht."
6. The Sting & Arrest (27:56–31:59)
- Police Investigation: Found correspondence via SeekingArrangement; set up a sting via an undercover officer.
- Apprehension: On July 4, 2014, Alex was lured under false pretenses to a hotel and arrested. She acted surprised, believing she was only being charged with prostitution until learning Forrest had died.
- Quote: “Why are so many police here just to arrest me for sex work?” —Payton, paraphrasing Alex (30:08)
7. The Legal and Ethical Quagmire (31:59–37:03)
- Charges: Multiple felonies—drugs, prostitution, manslaughter, destruction of evidence.
- Alex's Defense: Claimed she was paid to bring heroin, didn't know about alcohol/Valium use, tried to revive Forrest, panicked and left.
- Quote: “She did try to revive him, which we do sort of see in the video with her slapping his face to try to get him to come to.” —Payton (33:22)
- Discussion around consensual drug use and responsibility: Is it fair to charge one user for another’s overdose death?
8. Plea Deal and Aftermath (37:03–39:04)
- Plea: Alex pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, sentenced to six years (served three), deported to Canada after release.
- Family’s Reaction: Forrest’s family did not wish to press charges; sought closure instead.
- Quote: "We were never interested in pressing charges against Alex." —Payton quoting Forrest's family (36:56)
- While in jail, Alex reportedly got clean and rebuilt her life after deportation.
9. New Accusations: Dean Riopel (39:04–46:11)
- Second Death Surfaces: In 2018, Georgia grand jury files murder and drug charges for the 2012 death of her ex, Dean Riopel—a beloved Atlanta club owner.
- Circumstances: Dean, not known for drug use, allegedly died from a heroin/oxycodone/alcohol overdose after a relationship marked by codependency and Alex’s addiction. Alex was present, called 911 claiming to have found him unconscious.
- Parallels are drawn between Dean’s and Forrest’s deaths; both accidental overdoses occurring while Alex was present.
10. Ongoing Legal Complexities & Moral Reflections (46:11–49:30)
- Questions about coincidence versus criminal pattern: Can two men die accidental overdoses around the same woman and it still be coincidence?
- Quote: “How many coincidences can we have before it’s the cause of doing drugs or doing something that we shouldn’t be doing?” —Garrett (46:47)
- Both hosts reflect on the destructive power of addiction, moral responsibility, and tangled consequences for families and survivors.
11. Notable Quotes & Listener Takeaways
- “Addiction is a demon, and when you are stuck in the throes of addiction, most likely other parts of your life are going to begin to fall apart.” —Payton (47:17)
- “It’s hard because I feel like I have a lot of... acquaintances where I hear about this stuff where they’re into heavy drugs... and all these ‘unlucky and unfortunate things’ happen in their lives.” —Garrett (46:40)
- “In the end, we are left to wonder, is this all a terrible coincidence for Alex or is there something more nefarious going on here?” —Payton (48:41)
Memorable Moments & Key Timestamps
- Theme Setup & Personal Banter: (01:07–05:25)
- Forrest’s Life and Achievements: (05:25–10:26)
- Discovery of Forrest’s Death & Initial Shock: (10:26–13:15)
- Security Footage and the Chilling Departure: (20:43–22:26)
- Alex’s Troubled Past & Poem About Addiction: (23:33–26:09)
- Police Sting & Alex’s Arrest: (27:56–31:59)
- Legal and Ethical Quandaries: (33:29–37:03)
- Dean Riopel Case Parallels: (39:04–46:11)
- Addiction and Responsibility Reflections: (46:11–49:30)
Tone & Language
- Conversational and honest, mixing dark humor with empathy.
- Payton: Narrative, detail-focused, often reflective.
- Garrett: Sincere, often acts as the audience surrogate, skeptical but thoughtful.
Summary
This episode explores the complexities of double lives, unexpected tragedy, and the collateral damage of addiction. Forrest Hayes, the prototypical family man and Silicon Valley success, is revealed to have fallen victim to his own chase for thrill and secrecy, alongside Alex Tickleman—a woman whose own traumas and addictions are at the heart of a new, tangled web. The Morelands leave listeners pondering responsibility, addiction, and whether tragic coincidences might sometimes be more than that.