Suvechha Sarkar
Ildiko Krajnyak was a 48-year-old loving mother and a beloved sister. However, her beautiful life came to a sudden halt in May 2018, when she unexpectedly passed away in a bomb blast at her workplace in Aliso Viejo, California. It also left two of her clients injured, prompting an immediate investigation. NBC’s ‘Dateline: Death at the Spa’ focuses on how the complex investigation uncovered that someone who was once quite close to her was responsible for her untimely demise. It also features interviews with the authorities who worked on the case and her loved ones.
Ildiko Krajnyak Was Working in Her Spa When She Died From an Explosion
The parents of Ildiko Krajnyak welcomed her into the world on June 8, 1969, in Miskolc, Hungary. She grew up in a house filled with love, alongside her beloved brother, László Krajnyák. Her loved ones often described her as someone with an adventurous personality. According to her brother, after completing her education, she began working at just the age of 20. Around 1998, Ildiko finally decided to take another leap of faith as she moved and settled down in California. Reports indicate that, despite moving away from home, she occasionally visited Hungary and maintained regular contact with her family. Eventually, Ildiko met Ronilo Vestil, and they soon began dating. It wasn’t much longer before they tied the knot and welcomed their son, Keanu Laszlo Vestil, into their lives.
Unfortunately, Ildiko and Ronilo’s relationship didn’t work out, and they parted ways. They reportedly continued to live under the same roof in Trabuco Canyon, California, along with Ildiko’s mother, who was ill. During her time in California, she tapped into her entrepreneurial spirit and opened her own day spa, Magyar Kozmetika, in Aliso Viejo, California. Further reports state that in 2017, Ildiko also served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of I&S Enterprises, a skin care and retail company. She reportedly worked there with her business partner, Stephen Beal. Some reports suggest that Ildiko worked in the beauty industry for around 30 years. Everything seemed to be working out for her, but that changed on May 15, 2018. Around 1:05 pm, Ildiko opened a cardboard box after attending to her clients, a mother and her daughter.
When Ildiko opened the box, it caused an explosion that reportedly killed Ildiko on the spot. As soon as the fire authorities and other officials arrived at the scene, they discovered that the spa interior was destroyed, with one of its walls blown off. Official records state that the explosion also caused structural damage to the adjacent buildings. The mother and the daughter, who were present at the scene, suffered severe burns and lacerations. The detectives discovered Ildiko’s remains both inside the spa and outside in the parking lot. They found melted duct tape, a cellphone, loose wires, and a nine-volt battery at the scene, as well as glasses scattered both inside and outside the building. All of the items were severely damaged. Since the authorities deduced that the box was placed at the spa intentionally, they reportedly considered Ildiko’s death a homicide.
Early Investigation Pointed to Ildiko’s Business Associate as the Killer
Initially, investigators learned from one of the survivors that the explosion happened right after Ildiko opened a cardboard box, which was kept at her office. According to reports, the investigation soon revealed information about Ildiko’s ex-boyfriend, Stephen Beal. She reportedly met Stephen in 2016 through a dating application. He was a widower, who was also passionate about making model rockets. His wife, Christine Beal, passed away on March 8, 2008, after suffering health complications following a fall down a flight of stairs. It happened when he and Christine were carrying a piece of furniture. Although it raised red flags for the authorities, they noted that Stephen was never charged or considered a suspect in that case. Police records state that they reportedly discovered information about Stephen and Ildiko’s relationship, which ended in early 2018.
According to reports, Ildiko and Stephen continued being business partners despite their breakup. During a search at Stephen’s residence in Long Beach on May 16, 2018, detectives discovered explosive-making materials of around 130 pounds. Additionally, they found parts of wires from his home. On May 16, Stephen was arrested and charged with possession of an unregistered destructive device. However, the prosecution dropped the charge at the end of May because experts raised questions about whether the items met the legal definition of a destructive device. After he was released from custody, detectives continued the investigation. The forensic experts uncovered that the wires recovered at the spa matched the unique wiring material found in Stephen’s home.
Surveillance Footage and Digital Forensics Led the Authorities to the Killer
According to court records, investigators recovered CCTV footage from a store, showing Stephen purchasing a 9-volt battery, similar to the one found at the scene, just six days before the explosion. Moreover, his cellphone location data and surveillance footage reportedly showed that he had visited Ildiko’s spa multiple times before the bombing, when she was visiting Hungary. According to investigative reports, the authorities discovered that Stephen was also keeping track of Ildiko through her social media account and online appointment scheduling application. As per official records, another CCTV footage captured Stephen buying cardboard boxes similar to the ones in which the bomb was kept in Ildiko’s office. Ultimately, Stephen was again arrested on March 4, 2019.
Stephen was indicted on federal charges of malicious destruction of a building resulting in the death of Ildiko. His first trial began in July 2022, which ended in a mistrial due to a jury deadlock. Stephen’s second federal jury trial lasted for four weeks. On July 19, 2023, he was convicted of use of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death, malicious destruction of a building resulting in death, use of a destructive device during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possession of an unregistered destructive device. Stephen was sentenced to life in prison for the first two charges. He also received a consecutive 30-year term on the third count, along with a 10-year sentence, to be run concurrently for the fourth charge on January 19, 2024.
Read More: Valerie Stone: What Happened to Stephen Beal’s Fiancé?
