This has been all over the news in the Bay Area... In Vallejo, California, a murder suspect who led officers on a high-speed chase with his dead girlfriend in the passenger seat is a central figure in the investigation of at least four killings: Dead suspect may be linked to 4 slayings in Calif.

38-year-old Efren Valdemoro was shot and killed by California High Patrol officers Tuesday night after refusing to drop a meat cleaver. Inside the car, officers found the dead body of Valdemoro's girlfriend, Cindy Tran. He had apparently kidnapped her earlier that day. And that's only the beginning:

Valdemoro's deadly confrontation with CHP officers occurred as Vallejo investigators came across the grisly discovery of two decomposing bodies in a home.

One of the victims, Segundina Allen, 63, was an acquaintance of Valdemoro who had allowed him to stay in her home off and on for about 10 years, authorities said. Close friends said she had grown fearful of him.

Allen and her longtime friend, Marcaria Smart, 60, were reported missing last weekend and hadn't been seen since Aug. 25.

Investigators on the missing-persons case searched Allen's home Tuesday afternoon after noticing numerous flies in the house earlier and found the bodies — one in the backyard and one inside the house, Tenorio said.

They also found chemicals used to make explosives in the home.

More here: Hercules murder suspect shot, killed; linked to missing Vallejo women. Kidnapping, murder, missing persons, dead bodies, explosive chemicals... As more details emerge, the situation gets weirder and weirder, and authorities and media are piecing together who this guy was and what the hell happened. One thing's for sure, Valdemoro did not sound like a very pleasant person. More here: Series of slayings prompted by jealous rage?