Mary “Max” Hadley was a passenger on Chiara’s motorcycle when he lost control and both rider and passenger were ejected onto the shoulder of state Highway 80 on Wednesday night. Hadley, 55, was pronounced dead shortly afterward, while as of today the 48-year-old Chiara remained in the intensive care unit at Northbay Medical Center in Fairfield.

The California Highway Patrol in Solano County said it’s suspected Chiara was driving under the influence when he wrecked the bike.

Chiara was paroled from state prison several months ago for the murder of Fortuna resident Mary Kesser, a young mother who Chiara hacked to death with a machete.

Chiara, then 20, had been hired by Mary Kesser’s estranged husband, Richard Kesser, and his fiancee Jennifer Leahy. All were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in 1992.

Hadley was a local private investigator and had worked previously for the Humboldt County Public Defender’s Office and for private attorneys as a defense investigator. She recently moved to Fairfield.

In 2007 the state Court of Appeal overturned the convictions of Richard Kesser and Leahy, saying the prosecutor wrongly excluded Native Americans from the jury. Leahy pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was released from prison at that time. She is on probation for life and no longer lives in Humboldt County.

Richard Kesser hanged himself in his cell at Humboldt County Correctional Facility.
Chiara also appealed his conviction but remained in state prison until his recent parole.