“Theobald ‘Theo’ Lengyel, Founding Member of Mr. Bungle, Convicted of First-Degree Murder of Girlfriend Alice ‘Alyx’ Kamakaokalani Herrmann”
He faces life in prison and is set to be sentenced in November.
Lengyel, 55, was arrested in January after Ms Herrmann’s remains were found in a wooded area of a park in Berkeley, California.
She had been reported missing the previous month after she didn’t show up to a family gathering in Hawaii, with Lengyel named by police as a person of interest.
During the trial, prosecutors played an audio file recorded on Ms Herrmann’s phone begging for her life as her boyfriend strangled her to death.
It is unclear if Ms Herrmann, 61, intentionally recorded the audio or if an app inadvertently recorded it.
An official from the district attorney’s office revealed that the crucial audio file was not discovered until September 22, 2024—one month after Theo Lengyel’s murder trial had already begun. The recording starts with Lengyel, also known by his alias Mylo Stone, playing piano before his demeanor shifts, becoming angry with Alice “Alyx” Herrmann. The argument begins when Herrmann expresses that she doesn’t want to go out to play pool, repeatedly telling Lengyel that she needs to stay home as she has work in Berkeley the following day.
The late discovery of this recording added a significant layer to the trial, providing a disturbing insight into the events leading up to her death.
A few minutes into the argument, Lengyel can be heard threatening his girlfriend, saying: “I could mash your f***ing brain.”
According to prosecutors, the verbal argument escalated into a physical altercation. Ms Herrmann could then be heard pleading for her life and gasping for air.
Theo Lengyel left Mr. Bungle in 1996 after contributing saxophone, clarinet, and keyboards on several recordings, including the band’s self-titled 1991 debut album and Disco Volante in 1995. Despite being a founding member, he did not take part in the band’s reunion tours that began in 2020. His departure marked the end of his involvement with the group, which went on to gain a cult following for its eclectic and experimental style.
Mr. Bungle was formed in 1985 in Northern California’s Humboldt County by high school friends, including guitarist Trey Spruance, bassist Trevor Dunn, and vocalist Mike Patton, who later became the frontman for Faith No More. The band became known for its experimental approach, blending a wide range of musical styles such as funk, heavy metal, electronic, and jazz. Their eclectic sound helped them stand out during the alternative rock boom of the 1990s, earning them a dedicated following and critical acclaim for pushing the boundaries of genre conventions.
