SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — A pivotal member of the avant-garde rock group Mr. Bungle was convicted on Friday for first-degree murder in connection with the death of his girlfriend. This verdict came after prosecutors in California uncovered a harrowing audio recording on the victim’s phone made during her final moments as she fought for survival.
A jury in Santa Cruz took one day to reach a decision, finding Theobald “Theo” Lengyel guilty of murdering his girlfriend, Alice “Alyx” Kamakaokalani Herrmann, during a tragic incident on the night of December 4, 2023, at her residence in Capitola. Lengyel, aged 55, is now facing a potential life sentence and is scheduled to receive his sentencing in November.
Lengyel’s arrest took place in January, following the discovery of Herrmann’s remains in a wooded area of Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley. She had been reported missing a month earlier when she failed to attend a family gathering in Hawaii.
On October 1, during the trial proceedings, prosecutors presented an audio file recorded on Herrmann’s phone in which she could be heard pleading for her life as her boyfriend was strangling her, drawing significant media attention. Details remain unclear regarding whether the audio was intentionally recorded by Herrmann or if it was captured inadvertently through the app.
Inspector Steven Ryan from the District Attorney’s Office testified that the disturbing audio file was not discovered until September 22, 2024, approximately one month after Lengyel’s murder trial commenced.
The recording begins with Lengyel playing the piano but quickly shifts into an argument as he grows agitated with Herrmann for not wanting to go out to play pool. Herrmann can be heard refusing to go due to her work commitments in Berkeley the following day.
As the argument intensified, Lengyel threatened Herrmann with a chilling statement, claiming, “I could mash your f(asterisk)(asterisk)(asterisk)ing brain.” Prosecutors indicated that the verbal dispute escalated, resulting in a physical confrontation where Herrmann pleaded for her life while gasping for breath.
Lengyel was part of Mr. Bungle, a band he left in 1996 after contributing his talents on saxophone, clarinet, and keyboards across several recordings, including the group’s self-titled debut album in 1991 and “Disco Volante” in 1995. He did not take part in the band’s reunion tours that began in 2020.
Mr. Bungle originated in Humboldt County of Northern California in 1985 and was formed by high school friends, including guitarist Trey Spruance, bassist Trevor Dunn, and vocalist Mike Patton, who later gained fame with Faith No More. The band became known for its eclectic blend of genres, including funk, heavy metal, electronic, and jazz, and enjoyed a burst of popularity during the alternative rock movement of the 1990s.
In a 2005 question-and-answer session, Dunn mentioned that Lengyel left the band under negative circumstances, highlighting the complexities of their past relationship.
