Posted on 10/06/2006 7:55:32 PM PDT by SmithL
OAKLAND — Murder charges were filed Thursday against an Oakland man suspected of turning his basement into a torture chamber reminiscent of the movie "Silence of the Lambs" and brutally killing his girlfriend there.
The Alameda County District Attorney's Office charged Earl Stefanson, 41, with murder and possession of a firearm by an ex-felon in connection with the murder of 36-year-old Leslie Lamb of San Leandro.
Stefanson was convicted of manufacturing drugs a decade ago and served prison time, police said.
Stefanson, a roofer, was arrested Tuesday night after a chase through Oakland and Hayward.
He remains jailed without bail and is due to be arraigned today on the charges in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland.
Oakland police said Stefanson drove a badly beaten Lamb to Highland Hospital on Aug. 26 and then left.
He told authorities he found her in a car.
Lamb died shortly after arriving at the hospital. Police later linked Stefanson to the crime and obtained a search warrant for his home on the 3400 block of Coolidge Avenue, in the city's Dimond district.
In the house investigators found Lamb's blood and the blood of two other people, police said.
Sgt. Tony Jones declined to elaborate on what police found in the basement, other than to say it was "very dark and frightening," even for experienced police working the case.
Police believe there are other victims and are continuing to look into unsolved murders for possible similarities to Lamb's murder. Anyone who has been victimized by Stefanson should call the Oakland Police Department at 238-3821. Anonymous tips can also be left at 777-3211.
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