OAKLAND, Calif. -- Authorities arrested a man Tuesday night who they believe brutally tortured and killed a woman and may have tortured at least two other women in his east Oakland home, Oakland homicide Detective Tony Jones said during a press conference Wednesday.

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Images: Suspect's Basement Described As Torture Chamber

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On Aug. 26, Earl Stefanson, 41, drove a woman suffering from severe trauma over her entire body to Highland Hospital, Jones said. The woman, later identified as 36-year-old Leslie Lamb of San Leandro, was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Stefanson, who was employed as a roofer, claimed he found her in a car.

Police said they were able to determine that Lamb had not been inside the car where Stefanson claimed to have found her.

Police said they determined Stefanson had a history of abusing Lamb.

When authorities searched his home in the 3400 block of Coolidge Avenue, they found Lamb's blood and the blood of two other unidentified women.

Police said Stefanson tortured her in a room set up in his basement, which they described as frightening.

Jones wouldn't elaborate on what the basement looked like, 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 residence, Jones said. At this point, police have no idea who the other two victims are or even whether they are dead or alive.

When police attempted to arrest Stefanson Tuesday night, he led them on a lengthy chase through Oakland and Hayward, Jones said.

Oakland police, with assistance from Hayward police, were eventually able to capture Stefanson and take him into custody.

Jones said that Stefanson was uncooperative during questioning following his arrest. However, from talking to acquaintances of Stefanson and Lamb, police were able to determine that the two had been dating since early this year and that Stefanson had a history of being extremely violent toward Lamb.

Jones attended Lamb's autopsy and said "the attack was very, very brutal."

According to Jones, Stefanson didn't have a "lengthy criminal history" and was known by most people as Earl. However, "We know that he has a history of abusing women," Jones said. "It's important that we locate every woman he has ever attacked in his life."

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 has been a victim of Stefanson to contact the Oakland Police Department.