A Long Beach man who planted a homemade bomb that killed his ex-girlfriend and severely injured two others at an Aliso Viejo day spa was sentenced to life plus 30 years in federal prison Friday.
Stephen Beal was convicted in July on four felony counts related to the bombing, including the use of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death.
KNX News’ Margaret Carrero reported that the government's sentencing memo states that Beal's crimes are some of the most heinous seen in this district. According to the memo, Beal threatened to kill himself after his then-girlfriend said she needed space about three months before the bombing. The following month, Beal found out that she was dating two other men. In the month before the bombing, he attempted to see her multiple times, but she turned him down.
According to the FBI, Beal’s ex-girlfriend was killed in May 2018 when she opened a box near the front desk of the spa they co-owned together. She triggered the explosive device by opening the box.
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Evidence in the case included pieces of wire found at the scene that matched wire found at Beal’s home during a search.
The defense argues that he built and launched hobby rockets and made fireworks so that any wire or materials found had no connection to the bomb.
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