Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of death and bombing. Reader discretion is advised.
In May 2018, a homemade bomb exploded at the Magyar Kozmetika day spa and killed Ildiko Krajnyak, a 48-year-old esthetician. The incident shocked the entire community and prompted the authorities to start the investigation. Dateline NBC plans to re-examine the gruesome bombing case in its latest episode. Titled “Death at the Spa,” the episode will come out with never-before-seen information regarding the case and what motivated it. It will air on the network on Friday, February 9, at 9 p.m. ET.
According to NBC Los Angeles, the bombing took place when Ildiko Krajnyak tried opening a cardboard box near the spa’s front desk. As soon as she opened the box, the explosive device triggered and resulted in a high-powered blast. The outlet also mentioned that the impact of the explosion destroyed the building and also injured two other people. Citing the authorities, the outlet indicated that the magnitude of the explosion was so big that “human remains” were found right outside the spa building. As the investigation progressed, the police arrested a man named Stephen Beal for the bombing.
The authorities charged him with multiple charges, including the use of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death. Beal pleaded not guilty to all the charges. In June 2022, the trial began in the bombing case, and both sides started their arguments. Nearly two months later, the case reached the jury, and they failed to reach a verdict, per Associated Press.
The outlet mentioned that the jurors were “deadlocked” and unable to reach a verdict after seven days of deliberation. As a result, the judge declared it a mistrial. The second trial in the Ildiko Krajnyak murder case started in 2023.
What was the motive behind the Magyar Kozmetika spa bombing?
As mentioned above, the first trial in the bombing case ended up being a mistrial. However, the prosecutors did manage to tell the jurors why Stephen Beal killed Ildiko Krajnyak. According to CBS News, the prosecutors noted that Beal wanted to take revenge on Krajnyak for dating another man. The prosecutors also indicated that Krajnyak “admitted” to being in a relationship with someone else after her relationship with Beal ended.
Additionally, Krajnyak told her friends that Beal had been threatening her. The attorney said, “In the months leading up to the explosion, Ms. Krajnyak admitted to being in a relationship with another man, and her relationship with Mr. Beal ended. Mr. Beal himself admitted to feeling betrayed. Ms. Krajnyak told friends that she was scared of being harmed by Mr. Beal, and that he had made threats.”
Meanwhile, the second trial in the bombing case turned out to be significant. The prosecution kept on pressing that jealousy and revenge prompted him to destroy the Magyar Kozmetika spa. At the end of a four-week trial, the jury found Stephen Beal guilty of four felonies, including use of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death, per ABC7 Los Angeles.
Subsequently, the court sentenced him to life in prison on two counts. He also received a “consecutive 30-year prison sentence on the third count, and a 10-year concurrent sentence on the fourth count.” After the sentencing, the prosecution team expressed gratitude towards the court for providing justice in the case.
Citing the prosecutors, the Department of Justice noted, “Mr. Beal’s wanton disregard for the lives of others warranted the severe sentence that the court imposed, which should send a clear message that our community will not tolerate such acts of violence.”
Learn more about the Magyar Kozmetika spa bombing on the upcoming episode of Dateline NBC on February 9, 2024.
