Stephen William Beal, Use of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death, California 2018

ALISO VIEJO, CA – A Long Beach man, Stephen William Beal, 64, will spend the rest of his life behind bars after being sentenced today to life plus 30 years in federal prison for the calculated and brutal bombing of an Aliso Viejo day spa in May 2018. The explosion claimed the life of Beal’s ex-girlfriend and left two innocent women with devastating injuries. U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton, handing down the sentence, described Beal’s actions as “chilling.”

The four-week trial culminated in a July 2023 federal jury finding Beal guilty on four felony counts: use of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death, malicious destruction of a building resulting in death, use of a destructive device during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possession of an unregistered destructive device. Judge Staton imposed life imprisonment on the first two counts, a consecutive 30-year term on the third, and a concurrent 10-year sentence on the fourth.

The bombing occurred at approximately 1:05 p.m. on May 15, 2018, inside a commercial office building housing Magyar Kozmetika, a day spa owned by 48-year-old Ildiko Krajnyak. Beal meticulously constructed and planted a package bomb designed to kill. It succeeded in that aim, instantly killing Krajnyak. Two spa clients, a mother and daughter, were also caught in the blast, suffering severe, life-altering injuries. One testified she saw Krajnyak opening a cardboard box moments before the explosion.

“Mr. Beal callously murdered a loving mother, maimed two other victims and put at risk many others in the vicinity, including children and teachers at a nearby preschool,” stated U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “Mr. Beal’s wanton disregard for the lives of others warranted the severe sentence that the court imposed, which should send a clear message that our community will not tolerate such acts of violence.” The blast’s force blew a hole in the building, allowing the surviving victims to escape the inferno.

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Donald Alway emphasized the complexity of the investigation. “This case brought together many who shared a commitment to finding the truth, including tenacious investigators at multiple agencies, forensic teams that sifted through and analyzed a massive debris field following the attack and dedicated prosecutors.” Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes echoed the sentiment, stating, “It took extreme commitment and dedication by our personnel and federal partners to ensure justice was realized for the victims and their families.”

The sentencing, while offering a measure of closure, cannot erase the trauma inflicted on the victims and their families. The surviving victim testified to suffering second- and third-degree burns. The court hopes the sentence will provide some comfort, knowing Beal will no longer pose a threat to the community. He’ll likely die in prison, paying the ultimate price for his act of cold-blooded violence.

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