Man charged in double murder in Culver City

LOS ANGELES - A transient is set to be arraigned May 25 on charges he murdered a 27-year-old woman and an 89-year-old man in the older victim's Culver City home.

Zackariah Lehnen, 30, is charged with two counts of murder in the May 2 stabbing and beating deaths of Lucien Bergez and Erica Escobar, who lived in Santa Monica.

The criminal complaint includes special circumstance allegations of multiple murders, murder during the course of a robbery and murder involving the infliction of torture, which could make him eligible for the death penalty.

The complaint alleges Lehnen used a knife.

A maid found the bodies May 3 in Bergez's home in the 4000 block of Huron Avenue about 10 a.m.

"It is our belief that this was not a random crime," Culver City police Chief Don Pederson said last week. "The investigation has led us to believe that the suspect was known to both victims. At this time, the nature of those relationships are not completely known, however."

Lehnen, arrested in West Hollywood on Thursday, remains locked up.

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