Actor/Ex-Boyfriend Of Woman Killed In CA Explosion Arrested: FBI

ALISO VIEJO, CA — Editor's Note: Federal prosecutors dropped a charge against Stephen Bealon his possession of an unregistered explosive device. He was released Sunday.

Police arrested a Long Beach actor and ex-boyfriend of the woman killed earlier this week in an Aliso Viejo explosion for allegedly possessing a unregistered destructive device. The FBI, ATF and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office bomb squad raided the home of Stephen Beal in Long Beach Wednesday.

"During the course of the investigation into the May 15 explosion in Aliso Viejo, investigators found a destructive device during the service of a search warrant at a Long Beach residence," FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said in a statement Thursday morning.

"The resident, Stephen Beal, 59, of Long Beach, was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of an unregistered destructive device," Eimiller said. "Mr. Beal is not being charged in connection with the explosion. He is expected to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana this afternoon."

No other details will be released until Beal is charged, Eimiller said.

Neighbors have told the media that Beal and Krajnyak dated and that he was an investor in her day spa.

Investigators Wednesday night declared the explosion a criminal homicide. Police have not officially revealed whether Beal is suspected of homicide. Federal investigators, however, spent the day combing through the Long Beach home of Beal, an actor whose Facebook page features photos of himself on vacation with Ildiko Krajnyak, the woman killed in the blast.

When asked, an FBI spokeswoman declined to comment on if the Long Beach man was a suspect at this time. Authorities said this is just one lead that is currently being followed. The man's neighbors told Patch he was dejected over a recent breakup and is known in the neighborhood for building rockets and tinkering on projects in his garage.

"We are conducting logical investigations, and we will continue to do so," Laura Eimiller, FBI Los Angeles spokeswoman, told Patch.

Eimiller said investigators have not established a motive for the blast. Some media reports have indicated that 48-year-old Krajnyak. Krajnyak, the Trabuco Canyon resident killed in the explosion, had recently been through a difficult relationship breakup. The FBI has declined to comment on possible leads investigators might be pursuing.

Federal court documents show that Krajnyak and her husband, Ronilo Vestil, filed for bankruptcy protection in 2014, stating in part that their home was "scheduled to be sold through foreclosure" in December of that year. The couple filed paperwork in January asking for dismissal of the case, and it was officially closed on Monday.

According to Orange County court records, Krajnyak was also involved in a long-running dispute with a former tenant at a property in Rancho Santa Margarita. Krajnyak moved to have the tenant, Gary Barney, evicted from the property in 2010, claiming he owed $8,800 in back rent.

Krajnyak won a judgment against Barney in November 2010, but was still working to collect a total $23,034 from him as recently as January of this year, records show. The additional money included expenses and interest.

"Anyone with any piece of information they feel might be helpful would be welcome to the investigation," she said.

A Life Lost

Krajnyak owned Magyar Kozmetika, a day spa on the first floor of the building where the bombing occurred, OCSD Undersheriff Don Barnes said. Investigators are still trying to figure out how the explosive device reached Krajnyak before it exploded, leveling the corner of the building located at 11 Mareblu. Her home was searched overnight.

According to her Facebook profile, Krajnyak was a mother and an animal lover, who recently explored European cities.

Irene White, a friend of Krajnyak's family, gave a brief statement outside her home late Wednesday.

"This is a complete shock to family and her friends," White said. "We are in full support of our public authorities to do their jobs in hopes of finding answers to many of the unanswered questions. Families always came first for Ildiko. She took great pride in finding beauty in everyone. At this time, our family and friends would like to privately mourn a mother, a wife, a daughter and a friend."

She asked people willing to donate to the family to help with funeral expenses and to bring Krajnyak's son, Keanu Laszlo Vestil, home from college at the University of Washington, to visit www.gofundme.com/ildikokrajnyakmemorialfund.

Three other people were injured in the blast along with Krajnyak, but authorities have not yet identified those victims nor the extent of their injuries. One suffered from smoke inhalation.

The other two victims, both women, were believed to be customers inside the day spa when the explosion occurred, Barnes said. Authorities said they remained hospitalized but are expected to survive. At least one was undergoing surgery on Wednesday, Barnes said.

Explosion Rocks One of Nation's Safest Cities

The explosion rocked an Aliso Viejo community ranked one of the safest cities in the country Tuesday. The violence caused some people to run outside thinking an earthquake had struck, according to witnesses. A nearby preschool was evacuated to a Target shopping center, and a sense of fear gripped a community struggling to understand how the explosion happened and whether their quiet neighborhood was the site of a terror attack or terrible accident.

Doug Shin of Inglewood witnessed the event, telling Patch he heard a loud "boom" and felt the ground shake with the explosion.

"People thought it was a car that hit the building," Shin said. "We saw smoke, debris, and insulation from the building. It looked like a bomb went off."

As bomb squad investigators strategized for hours how to safely enter the building, residents in the area waited nervously, uncertain what would come next. All businesses on Mareblu remained closed Wednesday while the investigation continues.

"While authorities have deemed the site safe, the street remains closed to all through traffic," a city of Aliso Viejo spokesperson said. "The public is asked to avoid that area until further notice."

Authorities do not believe there is any additional threat to Aliso Viejo residents at this time, according to the current investigation. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news from your California neighborhood. Also, download the free Patch iPhone app or free Patch Android app. Also, be sure to follow your local Patch on Facebook!).

The Investigation

This difficult crime scene could take a week to process, according to FBI spokesperson Paul Delacourt.

"Bomb technicians from multiple agencies are working diligently to determine the cause of the explosion," Delacourt said. "This explosion was caused by a device, and though the damage was extensive, there are components at the scene that were inconsistent from what would expect to find in this business."

When asked, Delacourt declined to mention what those components were. Barnes says investigators "do not believe at this time that this was an accident."

Authorities continue to interview and serve warrants, such as the ones served in Aliso Viejo, Trabuco Canyon and the Long Beach. The investigation will take time, Delacourt said.

"Our thoughts and prayers go to the victims and family members," an ATF spokesperson said. "Outstanding job by OCFA, OCSD, in making sure the scene was secure."

"We are actively seeking information regarding the the case," Delacourt said.

Even as authorities refused to say whether the explosion was intentional Tuesday night, sheriff's detectives and federal agents descended on Beal's two-story home in a quiet Long Beach neighborhood near El Dorado Park. Investigators remained on the scene for more than 24 hours as news crews and neighbors gathered to outside a length of yellow police tape.

Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Previous coverage:

• Charges Dropped, Ex-Boyfriend Of Aliso Viejo Bombing Victim Freed
• 'Suspicious' Aliso Viejo Explosion Kills 1, Triggers Evacuations
• 5 Things To Know About The Aliso Viejo Explosion
• Trabuco Canyon Woman Killed In Deadly Explosion

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Photos: Amy Spurgeon Hoffman, Paige Austin, GoFundMe.com. City News Service contributed to this report.