(March 3, 2019) -- In a release this morning (March 4), the U.S. Attorney's office released details of a federal charge filed against an El Dorado Park South neighborhood man stemming from an explosion last year that destroyed a day spa in Aliso Viejo, killed the man's former girlfriend, and caused serious injuries to two spa clients.
As reported yesterday (Mar 3) by LBREPORT.com, Stephen William Beal, 59, was arrested "pursuant to a federal criminal complaint filed on Friday that charges him with malicious destruction of a building resulting in the death of Ildiko Krajnyak." US DOJ's release says the case is being investigated by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force with participation by multiple agencies including the Long Beach Police Department. [US DOJ release text] The charge against Beal relates to the May 15, 2018 explosion at the Magyar Kozmetica spa in Aliso Viejo. When first responders arrived on the scene, they discovered human remains outside of the building and noted major damage to building, according to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint. A woman who survived the blast told investigators that the explosion was the result of the spa's owner/operator, Ms. Krajnyak, opening a cardboard box. [Scroll down for further.] |
The US DOJ release notes that the criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime, and every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. It indicates that if Mr. Beal were convicted of the crime of malicious destruction of a building resulting in death, he would face a potential sentence of life without parole in federal prison.
The matter is being investigated by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes special agents with the FBI and deputies with the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Task Force members who participated in the investigation included IRS Criminal Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Los Angeles Police Department; the Long Beach Police Department; the Irvine Police Department; the Anaheim Police Department; and the Orange County Fire Authority.
Nearly a year ago on May 15-16, 2018, OC Sheriffs converged on Mr. Beal's El Dorado Park South residence; LBREPORT.com observed US EPA's "Emergency Response Team" on scene on May 16.
Mr. Beal was arrested and the U.S. Attorney's office filed charges against him -- but not for the deadly explosion -- then dropped those charges which were for allegedly possessing an unregistered explosive device. On May 26, 2018, federal prosecutors filed a court document indicating questions had arisen about whether the device met the federal law's definition of a "destructive device." <
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