Keith Green, a 27-year-old resident of Millbrae, California, was reported missing on April 29, 2016, after he failed to return home following a meeting with his ex-girlfriend, Tiffany Li, at the Millbrae Pancake House. His disappearance was immediately deemed suspicious as he left behind his wallet, car, and other personal belongings. His phone was later discovered by a hiker in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Nearly two weeks later, on May 11, 2016, a decomposing body was found by a Sonoma County sheriff's deputy near a homeless encampment between Healdsburg and Geyserville. The body was identified as Keith Green, and an autopsy confirmed his death as a homicide.
The investigation into Green's death led to the arrest of three individuals: Tiffany Li, her boyfriend Kaveh Bayat, and their former bodyguard Olivier Adella. Authorities believed that Li and Bayat orchestrated the murder due to Li's fears of losing custody of her children to Green. Adella was accused of being an accessory to the murder, allegedly hired by Li and Bayat to dispose of Green's body. The arrests were made following the execution of search warrants at residences in Burlingame and Hillsborough.
The legal proceedings that followed were complex and highly publicized. Tiffany Li, a wealthy heiress from a prominent Chinese real estate family, and Kaveh Bayat were charged with murder. However, during the trial, both Li and Bayat pointed fingers at Adella, claiming he was the actual murderer. Adella, who had initially agreed to testify against Li and Bayat in exchange for immunity, violated the terms of his deal, leading to the revocation of his plea agreement. Despite the prosecution's efforts, the jury acquitted Li of all charges, and the jury was deadlocked on Bayat's verdict, resulting in a mistrial for him. Adella was eventually charged with accessory to murder and was taken into federal custody after his release from the San Mateo County jail.
The case did not end with the criminal trials. Green's mother filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Li and Bayat, seeking justice for her son's death. The civil trial was set to begin in January 2022, with Li providing a deposition in which she shared her version of the events leading up to Green's disappearance. Despite the legal battles, no one was ultimately convicted for the murder of Keith Green, leaving his family and friends without the closure they sought.
