A Long Beach resident with a passion for rockets and explosives has been found guilty of creating a homemade bomb that caused a deadly explosion in an Aliso Viejo day spa, resulting in the death of his ex-girlfriend and injuries to two other women. The incident, which occurred over five years ago, sent shockwaves through the quiet Orange County community.
A jury in Los Angeles deliberated for less than two hours before delivering its verdict on Stephen Beal, 64, convicting him of using a weapon of mass destruction leading to death, among other charges related to explosives. After the jury’s decision, Beal was promptly taken into custody.
During the trial, prosecutors described how Beal constructed a powerful bomb disguised as a package, made from a cardboard box. Ildiko Krajnyak, the victim, unwittingly opened the box at her desk in the Magyar Kozmetika day spa, triggering the explosion. The blast caused severe injuries to Krajnyak, resulting in her tragic death, and also harmed two spa clients. The aftermath of the explosion left a scene of chaos with debris and body parts scattered around the usually serene business park near Oso and Moulton Parkways.
Following the bombing, Beal displayed knowledge of the bomb’s details during interviews with FBI agents, even before they were released to the public. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Takla highlighted the accuracy of Beal’s statements and the fact that he was familiar with the bomb’s appearance, as reported in the news. However, defense attorney Meghan Blanco argued that the FBI’s quick focus on Beal as a suspect demonstrated “tunnel vision.” She questioned why Beal would not have taken steps to hide the 130 pounds of explosive chemicals found in sealed containers in his home if he was the bomber.
Blanco further contended that Beal’s extensive experience with homemade rockets should have prevented him from choosing an explosive as a murder weapon. According to Blanco, it would have been illogical for Beal to invite suspicion on himself by building a bomb.
The surviving witnesses, a mother and daughter who had recently received facials at the salon, recalled the moment Krajnyak chatted with them while opening the box, which ultimately exploded. Investigating the bombing proved to be an arduous task for law enforcement and specialized technicians. The process was described by an FBI agent as “looking for something microscopic in a building that was hit by a tornado.”
However, investigators eventually discovered evidence linking the bomb to Beal. Tiny fragments of a 9-volt battery, likely used to power the device, were found lodged in the ceiling panels directly above the blast site. Security camera footage also captured Beal purchasing a similar battery at a CVS near his residence days before the explosion.
Investigators and prosecutors repeatedly identified Beal as the prime suspect, citing his personal and professional connection to Krajnyak. The only person believed to have the motive, means, and opportunity to carry out the bombing. Prosecutors revealed that Beal recently learned of Krajnyak’s romantic involvement with another man and claimed that their dating relationship had been “tumultuous.” In addition to their personal relationship, Beal and Krajnyak were co-owners of the spa.
Beal claimed that the chemicals found in his home were related to a hobby in fireworks and model rockets, which he had abandoned when his children grew up. However, prosecutors presented recent photos showing Beal with large rockets he had constructed, arguing that his hobby provided him with the necessary skills to make bombs.
The trial marked the second attempt to try Beal for Krajnyak’s death. The first trial ended in a mistrial in 2022, with the jury divided 9 to 3 in favor of guilt. One juror echoed the defense’s argument about the FBI’s narrow focus on Beal during the investigation.
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