SANTA CRUZ — In the early December days after El Cerrito man Theobald Lengyel allegedly killed his girlfriend, Alice “Alyx” Herrmann, the tech finance worker and musician reached out to his brother for help.
During murder trial testimony heard over two days this week, his brother said that Lengyel sent him an email saying that he was incapable of handling his own affairs and asked his brother to take care of his pickup and his dog Trav. He also wanted his brother, Jed Lengyel, to take over his power of attorney, Jed Lengyel testified over two days this week as the prosecution’s witness in Theobald Lengyel’s ongoing murder trial.
Theobald Lengyel wrote that he had “somehow created a legal maelstrom for myself.”
Later, headed to Portland with his dog, Theobald Lengyel texted that he was en route to his brother’s home and to “brace yourself, it’s worse than you can possibly imagine.”
Jed Lengyel testified that he was at a work holiday party when he read the email, dressed in a tuxedo, “which is a very weird juxtaposition.”
Such communications would typically come to Jed Lengyel from Herrmann, he said. When he heard nothing from Herrmann, of Capitola, Jed Lengyel texted her Dec. 7 to inquire about what had happened. She never responded.
“When I didn’t hear back, I started to get nervous,” Jed Lengyel said, describing himself as “in denial” about what may have happened to Herrmann.
Jed Lengyel said he immediately began driving home to Portland, Oregon, where his brother was waiting Dec. 8 in the basement. Upon his arrival, Theobald Lengyel offered no specifics on what had gone wrong.
The two brothers took a train from Portland back to Santa Cruz for an appointment Theobald Lengyel had with defense attorneys that was supposed to lead to a surrender to police investigators. Lengyel was not arrested until Jan. 2, however.
Attorneys had Jed Lengyel recounting details of his brother’s temperament, childhood traumas, relationships with female members of his family — including Theo’s ex-wife and Herrmann — and more.
Alyx and Theo were both “cerebral types” who worked hard in their shared professional field, Jed Lengyel testified. He added that he had not detected any violence in the relationship.
Defense attorney Annrae Angel led Jed Lengyel through his brother’s upbringing and parents’ messy divorce. He also was asked about a family Thanksgiving when a drunken fight broke out with Theobald Lengyel and their sister ended up on the floor. Jed Lenygel said he had not seen how she got there. The family collectively decided the next day to shun Theobald Lengyel.
“He has the fire that my father had, yes,” Jed Lengyel said of his brother’s temperament. “He’s passionate.”
The trial was set to continue Friday.