Theo Lengyel: Former Mr. Bungle Member Convicted of First-Degree Murder

Theobald “Theo” Lengyel, a former member of the band Mr. Bungle, was convicted of murdering his girlfriend, Alice “Alyx” Kamakaokalani Herrmann, in a case that has garnered significant media attention. On October 11, 2024, a jury in Santa Cruz reached a verdict after a day of deliberation.

At 55 years old, Lengyel was among the original members of the experimental rock group Mr. Bungle, which formed in 1989. He contributed his talents on keyboards, clarinet, and saxophone. Following creative disagreements, Theo departed from the band in 1996 and chose not to participate in any subsequent reunion activities.

Alyx went missing last year, with investigators estimating that her last known sighting was on December 3, 2023. The murder investigation was initiated when human remains were discovered in a secluded area of Tilden Park in Berkeley, leading to Lengyel’s arrest.

According to a report by SF Gate in January 2024, police found Alyx’s red 2007 Toyota Highlander parked outside of Lengyel’s residence, which raised initial suspicions against him.

Theo Lengyel’s Musical Journey with Mr. Bungle

Theo Lengyel was instrumental in the formation of Mr. Bungle, an innovative rock band originating from Eureka, California. The band was created by a group of high school friends in 1985, featuring notable members such as Mike Patton, Trey Spruance, Trevor Dunn, Danny Heifetz, and Clinton “Bär”McKinnon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNUkc0hpPH8

Everyone I Went to High School with Is Dead (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNUkc0hpPH8)

During his time with the band, Lengyel contributed to two albums: the self-titled “Mr. Bungle”(1991) and “Disco Volante”(1995) before his departure.

A December 2023 SF Gate report indicated that his exit was not amicable. A 2005 Q&A with Trevor Dunn revealed:

“We collectively decided to continue without him because he wasn’t evolving alongside the band, and we were running out of roles for him. He was unhappy and I haven’t been in contact with him since.”

Although Mr. Bungle disbanded in 2000, the members regrouped in 2020 to release a re-recorded version of their initial demo, “The Raging Wrath Of The Easter Bunny,”yet Lengyel was absent from this lineup.

According to Lengyel’s LinkedIn profile, he transitioned into the technology sector, serving as the Vice President of Data Engineering at Instinet, LLC in the San Francisco Bay area for over 13 years prior to his arrest. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in physics from Cornell University in 1994.

As reported by Stereogum in January 2024, Lengyel and Alyx were previously married but divorced in 2017, the same year Alyx obtained a restraining order against him.

Details Unveiled During Lengyel’s Murder Trial

Family members reported Alyx Herrmann missing on December 12, 2023, after losing contact for over a week. The Capitola Police Department, along with El Cerrito authorities, initiated a search for her.

Living in Capitola, CA, Herrmann had participated in an outrigger canoe club. Following her last appearance at a Santa Cruz gathering on December 3, she stopped returning calls or messages.

Authorities found her vehicle—a red 2007 Toyota Highlander—in front of Theo Lengyel’s residence.

Despite this, Lengyel did not cooperate with investigators. In a statement reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, the El Cerrito police department noted:

“Theo Lengyel is considered a person of interest in Alice Herrmann’s case and has failed to cooperate with the investigation.”

On January 4, the Capitola Police announced Lengyel’s arrest after the discovery of human remains in a wooded area of Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley. He was charged with first-degree murder and held without bail.

During the trial, prosecutors presented an audio recording from Alyx’s phone captured during the night of her death, in which the couple could be heard arguing about going out for a pool game.

In a harrowing moment, Lengyel was overheard threatening her, stating “I could mash your f**king brain,”as the recording revealed him strangling her while she pleaded for her life.

On October 11, after reviewing the evidence, the jury found Lengyel guilty. He is scheduled for sentencing in November and faces the possibility of life in prison.

There has been no public reaction from his former bandmates in Mr. Bungle regarding the verdict.

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