New information is emerging about re-arrest of a Long Beach man in connection with the deadly bombing at an Aliso Viejo spa last year.
Jealousy may have been part of the motivation that killed the spa owner, blew apart the building and left two other people badly hurt.
Federal authorities say Stephen Beal threatened the victim after she admitted seeing another man. They also say evidence found at the May 15th bombing scene, pieces of a battery and some wire, matched items found at Beal's home.
He has appeared in federal court in Santa Ana and was ordered to remain jailed without bail. A preliminary hearing in his case has been tentatively set for March 18.
The FBI released details about the case of a Long Beach man suspected in the death of his ex-girlfriend last year.
The ex-girlfriend, Ildiko Krajnyak, was killed in an explosion when she opened a cardboard box at an Aliso Viejo day spa.
"This was a horrific intentional attack that killed an innocent woman and severely injured two others who will live with the physical and emotional scars for the rest of their lives," said United States Attorney Nick Hanna in a press release. "We will do everything we can to obtain justice for these victims and hold the perpetrator accountable."
Agents Sunday morning burst into the Long Beach home of Beal and arrested him without incident.
Beal also was arrested one day after the May 15 blast that killed 48- year-old Ildiko Krajnyak at the spa. At the time, investigators reported finding two improvised explosive devices, three unregistered firearms and more than 100 pounds of explosive material during a search of his house. He told investigators at the time that he an Krajnyak had split up in part over finances, according to a court affidavit.
He was not charged with causing the blast after his arrest last year. He was charged only in federal court with possession of an unregistered destructive device. But federal prosecutors said further examination by the FBI raised questions as to whether the item met the definition of a `destructive device' set out in federal law, and prosecutors later brought a motion to dismiss the charges, which was granted May 29.
In November, sheriff's and FBI investigators said they were continuing to look for a suspect and asked for the public's help.
"We are looking at every grain of sand," said Joshua Stone, an FBI assistant special agent in charge. "Combing through the evidence in this case has been described as looking for something microscopic in a giant building that was hit by a tornado.
Nevertheless, we are committed to using every tool available to follow the evidence to conclusion."
Two other women who were in the day spa at the time of the explosion suffered significant burns and other injuries, sheriff's officials said.
FBI rearrested man connected to 2018 deadly bombing at an Aliso Viejo day spa. This is Stephen Beal's Long Beach home— where @FBILosAngeles busted the garage with an armored vehicle Sunday morning. pic.twitter.com/7OremsThTb
— Craig Fiegener (@CraigNews3LV) March 4, 2019Authorities say more than 1,000 pieces of evidence were collected from the crime scene, 300 of which were sent to FBI's Laboratory Division in Quantico, Virginia, to be examined.
Investigators have also accumulated "terrabytes of digital media and hours of surveillance footage."
The ingredients of the bomb could have been bought at retail stores, investigators say.
Anyone with information was asked to call the FBI tip line at (800) CALL-FBI.
-CNS and KNX 1070
