CAPITOLA, Calif. – The quiet coastal town of Capitola has been shaken by the arrest of Theobald “Theo” Lengyel, 54, in connection with the disturbing case of the missing 61-year-old neuroscientist, Alice “Alyx” Kamakaokalani Herrmann. What began as a disappearance has now turned into a homicide investigation, leaving the community grappling with the loss of a vibrant individual whose life was cut short under mysterious circumstances.
The Capitola Police Department confirmed Lengyel’s arrest on Tuesday, shedding light on the grim details surrounding Herrmann’s fate. Human remains were discovered in a wooded area in Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley, heightening the somber nature of the unfolding tragedy. However, the identity of the recovered remains is yet to be conclusively determined.
Herrmann, a neuroscientist with an academic background from Caltech, led a multifaceted life that extended beyond her scientific pursuits. A member of the Outrigger Santa Cruz, a canoe paddling group, Herrmann was remembered by her paddling team as someone who approached life with enthusiasm. Theresa Mulder, an Outrigger Santa Cruz Women’s Coach, shared, “I was not there the last day she paddled on the 3rd, but everybody said that she was excited about an upcoming trip to Hawaii and that she was in a great mood and happy. That’s how I remember her, smiley.”
The timeline of events leading to Herrmann’s disappearance unfolded when she was last seen on December 3 in Santa Cruz. Concerns deepened when she missed her flight to Hawaii on December 12, prompting her family to report her missing. Investigations led authorities to Lengyel’s residence in El Cerrito, where Herrmann’s car was found parked.
The relationship between Lengyel and Herrmann adds complexity to the unfolding narrative, with Lengyel also known by the alias Mylo Stone. The investigation was marked by Lengyel’s alleged lack of cooperation from the outset, raising suspicions that ultimately led to him being named as a suspect.
The community, particularly those within the paddling circles, mourns Herrmann’s untimely demise. “If this turns out to be her, we definitely would like to commemorate her in some way. It’s not just within our club; she touched the entire paddling community,” expressed Theresa Mulder.
As the Santa Cruz County D.A.’s Office collaborates with the police in El Cerrito and Capitola to collect information on the case, the identity confirmation of the human remains found in Tilden Park awaits DNA testing. The profound shock has reverberated through Herrmann’s family, as expressed by one of her brothers who, when reached by KTVU, could only convey his inability to discuss the tragedy.
The unfolding events surrounding Alyx Herrmann’s disappearance and the subsequent arrest of Theo Lengyel cast a somber shadow over Capitola, leaving a community in grief and a tragic mystery awaiting resolution.