Search continues for woman tied to Bay Area rocker

The search is continuing for a Capitola woman who went missing in early December, while investigators probe her boyfriend, a founding member of a well-established 1990s rock band. 

Friends and family believe Alice “Alyx” Kamakaokalani Herrmann, 61, was last seen on Dec. 3 or 4 in Santa Cruz, where she was part of an outrigger canoe club. She attended a meet-up with her club on Dec. 3, and when she failed to respond to texts or calls for some time, was reported missing on Dec. 12. While searching for her, investigators in El Cerrito allegedly discovered her red 2007 Toyota Highlander parked in front of her boyfriend’s home. Police identified that man as Theobald “Theo” Brooks Lengyel, 54, of El Cerrito.

According to El Cerrito police investigators, it’s believed that Lengyel drove from the Bay Area to Portland, Ore., in the days after Herrmann’s disappearance. They’ve asked “area residents who spend time in regional parks and open spaces to be on the lookout for anything suspicious that might lead to Alice’s whereabouts.”

Eric Herrmann, the missing woman’s brother, told SFGATE Tuesday that police are executing search warrants and following leads in both Capitola and El Cerrito. El Cerrito police earlier referred to Lengyel as a “person of interest” and said he was uncooperative with the investigation. ABC7 reports that police “think he is back in the Bay Area, but still do not know how to get ahold of him.” 

“She’s very talented, loves music, very active outdoors,” Eric Herrmann told SFGATE, “especially ocean outrigger canoeing where she competed internationally.”

El Cerrito police confirmed to SFGATE that Lengyel was once a member of the funk-metal band Mr. Bungle. Lengyel had a nearly 10-year run with the band from 1985 to the mid-1990s, primarily playing saxophone. In a 2005 Q&A, a bandmate said Lengyel left on bad terms.

Anyone with information is asked to contact El Cerrito investigators at 510-215-4435 or investigations@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us. Detectives said Lengyel drives a 1989 blue Ford pickup truck with the vanity plate “UNCLDRT.”

“The family is very anxious and holding out hope that she can be found alive,” Eric Herrmann said. “We hope someone saw something and will report it to the police.”