Crime & Safety

Man Charged with Murder in Culver City Deaths

Zackariah Lehnen will be arraigned May 25 in the killing of Lucien Bergez and Erica Escobar.

Zackariah Lehnen, a 31-year-old transient, has been charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Lucien Bergez and Erica Escobar, who were discovered in a Culver City home May 3. Lehnen could face the death penalty.

"We have a pretty good case against Lehnen," Capt. Dave Tankenson of the Culver City Police Department said in an interview with Patch.

Lehnen is accused of fatally stabbing and beating Bergez and Escobar, who were found in a home in the 4000 block of Huron Avenue. Escobar was a resident of Santa Monica.

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The criminal complaint against Lehnen alleges multiple murders, murder during the course of a robbery and murder involving the infliction of torture.

Lehnen, who was arrested in West Hollywood on Thursday, will be arraigned May 25 in a Los Angeles court. He is the only suspect in connection with the double homicide.

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Chief Donald Pedersen of the Culver City Police Department held a news conference Thursday to discuss the details of the arrest, though the information released was limited. According to Pedersen, a maid who frequently visits Bergez to care for him called police Tuesday at approximately 10 a.m: “She saw something she believed was a cause for concern and called us,” he said.

Pedersen declined to comment on where in the house the bodies were found or whether a struggle was apparent.

Through “investigative means,” said Pedersen, Lehnen was identified as a primary suspect in the case and was tracked to an alley in West Hollywood where he resides on a part-time basis. He was arrested without incident, and no weapons were found on his person. Pedersen confirmed that Lehnen has a criminal record, including arrests for domestic violence and narcotics.

According to the police department, both victims had been seen in the surrounding area with Lehnen on at least one occasion, though a motive for the crime has not been determined.

“It is not our belief that this was a random crime," said Pedersen. “We have reason to believe that there was a previous relationship between all three individuals, but what that relationship is I don’t know. It is under investigation.”

As of Monday morning, the relationship remains "murky" Tankenson said.

Members of the public are encouraged to contact the police department at 310-253-6309 if they have further information about this ongoing investigation.

City News Service contributed to this report.


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