Stephen Beal to Spend Remainder of Life in Prison for Fatal Bombing of Ex-Girlfriend Ildiko Krajnyak
Stephen Beal bombed his ex-girlfriend’s Aliso Viejo spa in May 2018, killing 48-year-old Ildiko Krajnyak and injuring two other women. This sad love gone bad resulted in Beal being sentenced to life in federal prison. Beal, 64, was found to have used a weapon of mass destruction in the explosion that led to this punishment.
Krajnyak’s family, friends, and former customers gave a prominent picture of a lively and determined woman who had opened her successful spa, which was her dream. Her cousin Eva Boni gushed about her, calling her “a wonderful person who was loved by many.”
During the hearing, Judge Josephine L. Staton stated that Beal decided to kill Krajnyak after reading messages from other men on her phone and realizing she didn’t want to continue their relationship anymore. To avoid responding impulsively, Beal “clearly decided that revenge is a dish best served cold.” Cold and deliberate, the judge said, the crime was “chilling.”
READ ALSO: Boyfriend’s Heart-Wrenching Testimony Unfolds In Trial Of Man Accused Of Fatal Driveway Shooting
People who knew Krajnyak felt relieved by his conviction and imprisonment, despite Beal’s continued denials of guilt. Boni told Beal during the hearing, “I can have peace knowing you will finally get what you deserve.”
This anecdote serves as proof that obsession and envy can have disastrous effects. A community and Beal’s family are mourning the death of a remarkable woman as a result of his heinous actions, and he will serve the rest of his life in prison for his crime.