Community holds vigil for Capitola woman, boyfriend arrested in her death
Vigil held for Capitola woman allegedly killed by boyfriend
Dozens of people gathered in Santa Cruz on Sunday afternoon to remember 61-year-old Alice Herrmann of Capitola. Herrmann went missing early last month and last weekend, Capitola police announced they’d found her body in Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley.
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - Dozens of people gathered in Santa Cruz on Sunday afternoon to remember 61-year-old Alice Herrmann of Capitola. Herrmann went missing last month and is presumed dead.
Herrmann’s boyfriend, 54-year-old Theobald Lengyel, has since been arrested in connection with the case.
"We’re heartbroken and there’s definitely a big hole left in our community now, in our club," said Theresa Mulder, an Outrigger Santa Cruz Women’s Coach.
Capitola police announced they’d found a body in Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley, but they have not confirmed if the remains are Herrmann's.
A neuroscientist with a degree from Caltech and fluent in French, Herrmann was also a member of Outrigger Santa Cruz, a canoe paddling club for people of all ages. She started competing as a club member in 2018.
Boyfriend arrested in disappearance of Capitola woman; human remains recovered
Theo Lengyel has been arrested for the alleged murder of his girlfriend Alice Hermann, a missing Bay Area woman.
"I was going to see her next weekend. When she didn’t show up, I texted, ‘Hey I missed you.’ It’s just usually not like her to not respond. I was devastated. We became friends, like sisters," said Lisa DeLaTorre, an Outrigger Santa Cruz member.
To begin the candlelight vigil, people carried a canoe from the dock to the parking area where the ceremony was held. It was filled with flowers, pictures, and messages in Herrmann’s honor.
After honoring Hermann’s Hawaiian heritage, people shared memories of getting to know, competing with and loving Alice Herrmann.
"You were so gentle, so quiet, so unassuming, yet so much a part of our ohana [family]," said one Outrigger Santa Cruz member.
Mulder says about a dozen club members attended Lengyel’s first arraignment. She says they also plan to be at his hearing next month, as a show of support for her family.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the status of the investigation into Hermann's disappearance. Authorities have not confirmed the identity of the body found in Tilden park.