Two IEDs found in home of blast victim’s ex-boyfriend

LOS ANGELES—Authorities investigating an explosion that killed the owner of an Aliso Viejo day spa and injured two customers say they have discovered two “complete” improvised explosive devices in the home of the dead woman’s former boyfriend, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday.

Stephen Beal, 59, of Long Beach, has been charged with one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device and is expected to appear in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana later Thursday afternoon, according to federal prosecutors.

Beal was arrested shortly after the Tuesday explosion that killed 48-yearold Ildiko Krajnyak, and tore open the ceiling and buckled the floor of her Maghar Kozmetica spa.

Beal has not been charged in connection with the explosion, which shook the two-story building so vigorously that people nearby thought it was an earthquake.

In a search of Beal’s home, investigators say they recovered two card- board tubes, batteries, a nine-volt battery connector and 130 pounds of explosives and precursors, according to an affidavit by FBI Special Agent Evan Jesch. Two handguns and a shotgun were also found in his home.

Beal told investigators that Krajnyak was his former girlfriend and that he was a model rocket hobbyist, but has not pursued that interest since 2004.

When asked about the rocket devices, Beal “initially said he did not recognize it. Later, he acknowledged the rocket device was a smoke detonator whose purpose was to release smoke during flight so a rocket would stay visible,” according to the affidavit.

In addition to having had a personal relationship with the victim, Beal and Krajnyak were also business partners.

In paperwork filed with the California secretary of State last month, Beal listed Krajnyak as the chief executive officer of a skin care and retail company he established last year. That company, I and S Enterprises Inc., is based in the same building where the explosion occurred. Beal listed himself as the corporation’s secretary and chief financial officer.

In addition to the Long Beach residence, law enforcement officials searched three other locations Wednesday, including the damaged business and Krajnyak’s home in Trabuco Canyon.

Authorities are examining the victim’s romantic, personal and financial relationships, according to sources familiar with the investigation who were not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.

Krajnyak lived in Trabuco Canyon and worked for three decades as an aesthetician, according to public records and her LinkedIn account.

“She worked so, so hard, always trying to make money to support her family and send her son to private school,” said a neighbor who identified herself only as Tiffany. “She would go on trips, come back home and 45 minutes later, walk back out, heading to work.”

Beal was expected to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana on Thursday afternoon.

Beal’s Facebook account features multiple photos of him with Krajnyak on international trips to Cuba, Canada and Portugal. The photos apparently were taken between June 2017 and last month.

On his personal web site, Beal said he worked as an executive consultant before turning to acting and performing late in life.

“His love of performing comes from a deep love of being seen,” his web site biography reads.

His profile on the Internet Movie Database lists 15 credited roles, mostly in short films and television programs.

Beal also wrote on his web site that he builds and flies “large-scale” rockets as a hobby. One of his rockets “exceeded Mach 2 in less than one second after launch,” he wrote.

Neighbor Steven Young, 63, said he sometimes saw Beal in his garage, working on rockets. Beal would go to the desert near Edwards Air Force Base to launch them with his kids.

Beal’s wife, Christine, died in 2008, according to the Los Angeles County coroner. Young said she fell down a curved staircase while moving furniture in the family’s home. The coroner lists the manner of death as “undetermined.”

“He’s a good neighbor,” Young said. “It’s hard to fathom that he would be involved in something like this.”