Man arrested on charges tied to explosion at ex-girlfriend's spa

Brett Molina
Updated

A California man was arrested on federal charges linked to an explosion last year at a spa which killed his ex-girlfriend, federal authorities said.

Stephen William Beal, 59, was arrested Sunday and charged with malicious destruction of a building, said the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Central District of California.

Beal had been arrested just after the incident last year, but was freed after prosecutors questioned whether items found at his home could be considered a "destructive device."The explosion on May 15, 2018, happened outside the Magyar Kozmetica spa in Aliso Viejo, California, killing one and seriously injuring two others.

The Attorney's Office said a woman who survived told investigators the explosion happened after Ildiko Krajnyak, the spa's owner and Beal's ex-girlfriend, opened a cardboard box.

"This was a horrific intentional attack that killed an innocent woman and severely injured two others who will live with the physical and emotional scars for the rest of their lives," said U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna in a statement.

According to an affidavit supporting the arrest, a witness told investigators Krajnyak had said Beal was "jealous, controlling and possessive" and she was scared of him because of threats.

Beal said he felt betrayed when she told him she was in a relationship with another man, Hanna said.

The Attorney's Office said further investigation into the explosion uncovered a partially destroyed battery consistent with one Beal bought a week before the blast, as well as the purchase of cardboard boxes eight days earlier that were similar to the one used in the explosion.

Beal was ordered to remain in jail without bail after a court appearance Monday, reports CBS Los Angeles. A preliminary hearing in his case is set for March 18, said the report.

Contributing: The Associated Press. Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man arrested on charges tied to explosion at ex-girlfriend's spa