OAKLAND -- Homicide charges were filed Thursday against an Oakland man suspected of brutally torturing and killing his girlfriend in a 'Silence of the Lambs' type room in his basement.

Earl Stefanson, 41, was expected in court Friday on a charge that he murdered 36-year-old Leslie Lamb of San Leandro, according to the Alameda County district attorney's office.

Oakland police believe Stefanson drove Lamb, who was suffering trauma to her entire body, to Highland Hospital on Aug. 26, saying he had found her in a car.

Lamb was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.

Police quickly determined she had not been inside the car where Stefanson claimed to have found her and obtained a search warrant for his residence in the 3400 block of Coolidge Avenue in east Oakland.

They found Lamb's blood and blood belonging to two other women in the basement, Oakland police Sgt. Tony Jones said on Wednesday.

Jones wouldn't elaborate on what police found in the basement, except to say that "it was a 'Silence of the Lambs' type of setting down there." He also said that the room was "very dark and frightening" even for the experienced police officers working the case.

It appeared as if Stefanson had made an attempt to clean up the blood and conceal evidence of Lamb having been at the home, Jones said. At this point, police have no idea who the other two women are or even whether they are dead or alive.

Stefanson was arrested Tuesday night after a chase through Oakland and Hayward.

Jones said police were able to determine that Stefanson and Lamb had been dating since early this year and that Stefanson had a history of being extremely violent toward Lamb.

Police are looking at other unsolved murders in Oakland to see if any show signs of torture similar to what Lamb suffered. They are also asking anyone who might have been a victim of Stefanson to contact the Oakland Police Department.

Oakland police homicide investigators can be contacted at (510) 238-3821, or on the department's anonymous tip line at (510) 777-3211.