Ex-Rocker Convicted of Murdering Girlfriend, Chilling Recording Reveals Final Moments
October 12, 2024
CALIFORNIA: A former saxophonist for the eclectic rock band Mr. Bungle, Theobald "Theo" Lengyel, 55, has been convicted of first-degree murder for killing his girlfriend, Alice "Alyx" Kamakaokalani Herrmann, 61. The jury delivered the verdict on Thursday, concluding that Lengyel committed a premeditated murder.
The most damning evidence was an hours-long recording on Herrmann's phone, capturing her final moments alive. On December 4, 2023, Herrmann recorded Lengyel yelling at her, saying, "I could mash your f—ing brain" when she refused to go out and play pool with him. The recording revealed a disturbing escalation of threats, including Lengyel blaming Herrmann for their fights and threatening to kill their dog.
Lengyel's menacing words included: "You're gonna f—ing die right now. Are you ready? Okay. How do you want to die? Blunt trauma or something else… think you should be choked to death? How about that." Herrmann pleaded with Lengyel to stop, mentioning his children: "You want your kids to be the kids of a murderer? Come on, stop it." Lengyel callously responded, "That's too f—ing late for that."
Herrmann's desperate attempts to calm Lengyel down were met with further aggression. She was heard telling him to "stop" over 50 times, but Lengyel continued his violent tirade.
The investigation began when Herrmann's family reported her missing after she missed a flight to Hawaii. An investigation led police to Lengyel, who became a homicide suspect after Herrmann's body was found in Berkeley's Tilden Regional Park in January.
A friend of Herrmann's, Aida Gray, testified that Lengyel once asked her to help kill someone in 2019. Gray described Lengyel's intensity and seriousness during the disturbing request. This testimony shed light on Lengyel's history of violence and troubling behavior.
Lengyel's drinking was also a subject of testimony earlier in the trial. Friends and family members described his erratic behavior when intoxicated, which often led to violent outbursts.
Herrmann was a California Institute of Technology graduate with a PhD in neuroscience, remembered as a "rock star, a rocket scientist, a brain surgeon, a martial arts master, and a finance wizard." Her tragic death highlights the devastating consequences of domestic violence and the importance of addressing warning signs.
Lengyel faces life in state prison for his heinous crime.
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