California man sentenced for spa bombing that killed ex-girlfriend and claimed another victim's eye

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (TCD) -- A 64-year-old man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for creating and planting an explosive device inside a spa in 2018 that resulted in the death his ex-girlfriend and extensive damage to a commercial office building.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, a judge sentenced Stephen Beal to life in federal prison for the use of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death and malicious destruction of a building resulting in death in connection with a spa bombing that killed 48-year-old Ildiko Krajnyak.

Beal was also sentenced to 30 years for use of a destructive device during and in relation to a crime of violence and 10 years for possession of an unregistered destructive device. A jury found Beal guilty of the charges in July 2023 following a four-week trial.

Beal reportedly left a package bomb at Magyar Kozmetika, a day spa owned by his ex-girlfriend, Krajnyak. The attorney’s office said Krajnyak opened the box on May 15 shortly after 1 p.m. and was "instantly killed."

Additionally, two spa clients, a mother and her daughter, suffered severe injuries, including second- and third-degree burns. One of the women lost an eye.

According to the attorney’s office, during the trial, one of the surviving victims testified and said she observed Krajnyak behind a desk opening a cardboard box just before the explosion. The surviving victim grabbed her mother from the rubble, and the two spa clients escaped the building through a "blown-out wall" caused by the bomb.

The attorney’s office said law enforcement officials searched Beal’s home after the explosion and discovered more than 130 pounds of explosive precursor chemicals, as well as bomb mixtures, electric matches, and wires.

Beal reportedly had extensive experience in creating high-powered model rockets and pyrotechnics. According to the attorney’s office, investigators found the explosive mixture he used to create the package explosive inside his home. The FBI also located 9-volt battery and wire parts in the ceiling where the bomb went off that matched the electric matches and wires in Beal’s residence.

Surveillance footage reportedly shows Beal purchasing a single 9-volt battery and three cardboard boxes with cash several days before the bombing.

Prosecutors argued that Beal and Krajnyak had dated for 18 months. Krajnyak tried to "distance herself from him," and then Beal became "obsessed" with her.

According to the attorney’s office, the defendant "kept tabs on Krajnyak before the bombing, checking her online schedule application and social media account."

Beal reportedly had a key to the day spa and entered the establishment multiple times before the bombing while Krajnyak was out of the country. He later left the package bomb for her to open when she came back.

The attorney’s office said Krajnyak’s family and associates testified in court, stating that "Beal was controlling and possessive, and some said they feared for her safety."

At Beal’s hearing, United States District Judge Josephine Staton said, "The cold, calculated nature of this crime is chilling."

Beal is scheduled to appear in court on April 12 to determine how much he should pay in restitution to the victims.

According to the attorney’s office, in a separate case, Beal failed to disclose during a bankruptcy proceeding that he inherited $350,000 from his deceased wife. Beal also fraudulently collected insurance and social security payments. As a result, the defendant received $1.3 million in disability payments. Beal pleaded guilty in November 2023 to wire fraud, Social Security fraud, and concealment of bankruptcy assets and will be sentenced on Feb. 23.

• Long Beach Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Bombing Aliso Viejo Spa in Attack that Killed His Ex-Girlfriend and Injured Two Others - U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California
• Long Beach Man Found Guilty of Federal Charges for Bombing of Aliso Viejo Spa That Killed Ex-Girlfriend and Severely Injured 2 Others, 7/19/2023 - U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California
• California man found guilty of killing woman in spa bombing after their breakup, 7/20/2023 - TCD