A former member of the experimental rock band Mr. Bungle was convicted of first-degree murder on Friday in a case that shocked fans of the influential group. Theobald “Theo” Lengyel, 55, was found guilty of killing his girlfriend, Alice “Alyx” Kamakaokalani Herrmann, in her California home on December 4, 2023.
A jury in Santa Cruz deliberated for a day before delivering the verdict, which carries a sentence of life in prison. Lengyel is set to be sentenced in November. The gruesome crime was uncovered after Herrmann’s remains were discovered in a wooded area of Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley in January.
Herrmann’s disappearance had been reported a month earlier after she failed to show up for a family gathering in Hawaii. An audio recording on Herrmann’s phone, which was discovered by investigators a month after Lengyel’s trial began, provided crucial evidence against Lengyel.
The recording, which was played in court, captures the terrifying moments leading up to Herrmann’s death. It starts with Lengyel playing piano before his argument with Herrmann escalates into a physical altercation. The audio file, which was inadvertently recorded on Herrmann’s phone, reveals Lengyel’s chilling threat to “mash your fucking brain” before the verbal argument turns violent.
Herrmann can be heard pleading for her life and gasping for air as Lengyel strangles her to death. The audio file was a pivotal piece of evidence in the case, providing a harrowing glimpse into the final moments of Herrmann’s life.
Lengyel was a founding member of Mr. Bungle, which was formed in Northern California’s Humboldt County in 1985. The band, known for its experimental sound, gained popularity during the alternative rock boom of the 1990s. Lengyel left the band in 1996 after playing saxophone, clarinet, and keyboards on several recordings, including the band’s self-titled debut album and “Disco Volante” in 1995.
He did not participate in the band’s recent reunion tours, which began in 2020. Lengyel’s conviction has sent shockwaves through the music community, with fans and former bandmates struggling to come to terms with the allegations against him.
