Southern California man convicted in 2018 spa bombing that killed ex-girlfriend

LOS ANGELES — A Southern California man was convicted Wednesday of blowing up his ex-girlfriend’s spa enterprise with a package deal bomb in 2018, killing her and critically injuring two purchasers.

A federal jury in Los Angeles convicted Stephen Beal of 4 felonies together with use of a weapon of mass destruction leading to loss of life, based on an announcement from the U.S. legal professional’s workplace.

Beal may face not less than 30 years and as much as life in jail when he is sentenced in November.

He was retried after a mistrial was declared final 12 months when the jury deadlocked.

Beal, 64, of Lengthy Seaside, was charged with killing Ildiko Krajnyak on Might 15, 2018, with a do-it-yourself bomb in a cardboard field that he slipped into her Aliso Viejo spa, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Los Angeles.

Krajnyak, 48, was killed within the fiery blast when she opened the field. Two purchasers — a mom and daughter — she had simply handled had been knocked off their toes.

The blast destroyed the enterprise and tore a big hunk from the constructing. Physique elements had been discovered within the parking zone.

Beal, a accomplice within the salon enterprise, was jealous Krajnyak had been relationship another person after their 18-month relationship ended, prosecutors stated.

“Mr. Beal was a jilted lover who needed to obliterate his ex-girlfriend after she sought to finish their relationship,” U.S. Legal professional Martin Estrada informed journalists at a information convention after the decision. “He used his experience in constructing rockets and explosives to create a bomb that he disguised as a mail package deal.”

Whereas Krajnyak was in Hungary visiting household, Beal left the bomb on the spa for her to open when she returned, based on the U.S. legal professional’s workplace assertion.

A day after the explosion, investigators searched Beal’s residence and located greater than 130 kilos (59 kilograms) of explosive mixtures and precursor chemical substances, the assertion stated.

“Beal had years of expertise constructing high-powered mannequin rockets and do-it-yourself pyrotechnics,” based on the assertion. “Laboratory testing decided that the explosive combination Beal used within the bomb got here from the identical chemical substances he had at his residence.”

Beal additionally was discovered responsible of malicious destruction of a constructing leading to loss of life, use of a damaging machine throughout and in relation to against the law of violence, and possession of an unregistered damaging machine.