Who Is Stephen Beal & Where Is He Now? 2025 Update & Background

Stephen William Beal, born in the early 1960s, was a Long Beach, California resident known in his community as a retired television consultant and model rocket hobbyist. He had a technical background and a long-standing interest in building pyrotechnics and model rockets, possessing both knowledge and access to explosive materials. Beal was also involved in multiple romantic relationships over the years, including a marriage that ended with the sudden death of his wife in 2008, and a later relationship with esthetician Ildiko Krajnyak.

Friends and acquaintances described Beal as intelligent but reclusive. He lived in a modest home where, according to investigators, he kept large quantities of chemical compounds used in explosives. Though not widely known to law enforcement before 2018, his expertise in rocket propulsion and chemistry would become a key focus after a deadly act of violence that shocked Southern California.

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The Murder of Ildiko Krajnyak

In May 2018, Ildiko Krajnyak — Beal’s ex-girlfriend — was killed when a package bomb exploded inside her spa in Aliso Viejo. The bomb had been concealed in a cardboard box left for her to open upon returning from a trip abroad. The blast killed Krajnyak and seriously injured two of her clients. Initial investigations suggested the device had been deliberately constructed and placed to kill her specifically.

Suspicion quickly turned to Beal. The two had shared a volatile relationship, and investigators found that Beal had accessed the spa while Krajnyak was out of the country. Surveillance footage, forensic analysis, and a detailed search of his home revealed a cache of materials matching those used in the bomb — including 130 pounds of explosive chemicals, electric matches, and unique wiring consistent with what was recovered at the crime scene.

Though Beal denied involvement, the digital and physical evidence was overwhelming. Prosecutors built a case that showed he had planned and executed the bombing with the intent to kill Krajnyak after their relationship had soured.

Trial and Conviction

In July 2023, after a four-week federal trial, Stephen Beal was convicted on four felony counts:

• 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
• Possession of an unregistered destructive device

On January 19, 2024, U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton sentenced Beal to life in federal prison plus an additional 30 years. During sentencing, Judge Staton called his crimes “chilling” and “coldly calculated.” Prosecutors described Beal’s actions as premeditated and dangerous, noting that the bomb could have killed many more, including children at a nearby preschool.

Beal has maintained his innocence and filed an appeal, but he was taken into federal custody immediately following the trial’s conclusion.

Where He Is Now

Stephen Beal is currently serving his life sentence in federal prison. While the exact facility has not been publicly disclosed, federal inmates serving long-term or life sentences are typically placed in high-security penitentiaries. Given the severity of his crimes and the nature of the charges — including the use of a weapon of mass destruction — he is likely being held in one of the more secure institutions within the Bureau of Prisons system.

In addition to the bombing case, Beal was also convicted in a separate fraud case. In November 2023, he pleaded guilty to wire fraud, Social Security fraud, and concealment of bankruptcy assets. He admitted to failing to report $350,000 from his late wife’s estate and fraudulently collecting more than $1.3 million in disability and insurance payments. Sentencing for that case was scheduled for early 2025 and could add further time to his imprisonment, although his existing life sentence will remain the dominant penalty.

The Shadow of an Earlier Death

Beal’s first wife, Christine Beal, died in 2008 under what authorities now call suspicious circumstances. She fell while helping him move a table down the stairs in their home. Though her death was ruled “probably natural,” an autopsy revealed elevated lead levels in her blood — and Beal had recently purchased lead tetraoxide, a chemical used in pyrotechnics.

Federal prosecutors highlighted her death during the sentencing phase of the bombing case, suggesting a disturbing pattern. However, Judge Staton ultimately chose not to consider Christine’s death in her decision.

Stephen Beal’s transformation from quiet hobbyist to convicted murderer is a rare and sobering example of how technical knowledge, when paired with malice, can lead to devastation. His story now continues behind bars, where he will spend the rest of his life.