Theobald Lengyel’s sentencing Thursday follows a weekslong murder trial that included extensive testimony and a brutal audio recording of Alice Herrmann’s death. Lengyel’s attorney said she would file a notice of appeal on his behalf.
Alice “Alyx” Kamakaokalani Herrmann
Posted inLatest News
Lengyel murder trial ends with fiery barbs between defense, prosecutors
The murder trial of Theobald Lengyel ended on Wednesday, with jurors now deliberating whether the former musician is guilty of first-degree murder or a lesser charge in the death of his girlfriend, Capitola resident Alice “Alix” Herrmann. The defense argued that Lengyel was provoked, while prosecutors alleged premeditation.
Posted inLatest News
Jury finds Theobald Lengyel guilty of murdering Alice Herrmann
Theobald Lengyel was found guilty of murder in the first degree by a Santa Cruz County jury on Thursday, after a weekslong trial in which prosecutors depicted the former Mr. Bungle alternative rock musician as someone with a pattern of abusive and violent behavior that culminated with the murder of his girlfriend, Capitola resident Alice “Alix” Herrmann, in December 2023.
Posted inLatest News
Closing arguments begin in Theo Lengyel murder trial
Prosecutors in the murder trial of Theo Lengyel began their closing argument, aiming to paint the defendant, a former rock musician charged with killing Alice “Alyx” Herrmann of Capitola last year, as having a history of violence and aggressive behavior, specifically toward his romantic partners. They hope to convince the jury to convict Lengyel of first-degree murder, and pointed to a dramatic recording of an argument between Lengyel and Herrmann that was played during the trial that appears to capture Herrmann’s death.
Posted inLatest News
As Theo Lengyel murder trial enters third week, witnesses recall an explosive personality who refused help
In the first two weeks of the murder trial in the death of Capitola’s Alice “Alix” Herrmann, prosecutors have called a parade of character witnesses who have described defendant Theo Lengyel as a combative person prone to alcohol-fueled rages. Lengyel’s defense has aimed to undermine the credibility of these accounts and has argued that Herrmann’s death was not first-degree murder.
Posted inLatest News
Cross-examination of ex-wife complicates prosecutors’ narrative in Theo Lengyel murder trial
The testimony of Theo Lengyel’s ex-wife, Joleen “Jody” Welch, in his murder trial for the death of Alice Herrmann undermined prosecutors’ portrayal of him as a consistently abusive, controlling alcoholic.
Posted inLatest News
Ex-wife alleges pattern of abuse in Theo Lengyel murder trial
The ex-wife of Theo Lengyel, accused of killing girlfriend and Capitola resident Alice Herrmann in December 2023, told jurors in his murder trial on Tuesday that he was controlling and violent over the course of their 17-year marriage.
Posted inLatest News
Alice Herrmann’s diary, neighbor offer troubled look at Theo Lengyel as murder trial enters second week
As the murder trial of Theo Lengyel, accused of killing his partner, Capitola’s Alice Herrmann, enters its second week, prosectors shared entries from Herrmann’s diary and testimony from Lengyel’s neighbor about his erratic behavior as they work to paint Lengyel as someone who struggled with alcohol and anger issues.
Posted inLatest News
Family of Alice Herrmann sheds light on relationship with boyfriend Theo Lengyel in second day of murder trial
In Thursday’s second day of Theo Lengyel’s murder trial, Santa Cruz prosecutors asked witnesses to recall any emotional, argumentative, violent or abusive moments between Lengyel, 55, and Capitola resident Alice “Alyx” Herrmann, 61. Most of Herrmann’s brothers’ recollections were neutral, and both said that only in retrospect did certain interactions they witnessed seem off. Neither brother, nor a neighbor of Herrmann’s in Capitola, recalled witnessing violence between the two.
Posted inLatest News
Murder trial begins for former Mr. Bungle musician Theo Lengyel in death of Capitola’s Alyx Herrmann
On the first day of Theo Lengyel’s jury trial, prosecutors painted defendant Lengyel as an alcoholic with anger problems and a history of abusive behavior. Lengyel’s defense attorney did not dispute that he killed his girlfriend, Capitola resident Alice “Alyx” Herrmann, but disputed the characterization of Lengyel as a violent man and argued that Herrmann’s death was not murder.