Culver City Double Homicide Suspect Arrested in Weho

Zackariah Timothy Lehnen, 31, was arrested in West Hollywood at 1:30 a.m. Thursday in connection with the double homicide of Lucien George Bergez and Erica Escobar, whose bodies were found Tuesday in a home in the 4000 block of Huron Avenue in Culver City. Lehnen, who has been identified as a transient, is the only suspect so far.

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.”

Pedersen declined to comment on where in the house the bodies were found or whether a struggle was apparent. An autopsy has not been performed yet and the cause of death has not been determined, he said.

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.” 

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