60-year-old woman beaten in break-in at Beanie Babies founder’s California mansion
A horrifying incident unfolded at the California mansion of Beanie Babies founder Ty Warner, where a violent intruder left a woman in a coma after a brutal attack. The perpetrator, Russel Maxwell Phay, 43, from Nevada, has been charged with first-degree attempted murder and other offenses for breaking into the billionaire’s Montecito home and assaulting a 60-year-old woman on May 21. The victim, identified as Linda Malek-Aslanian, a financial services expert, was found outside the estate with severe injuries and is currently in a coma due to a brain injury.
Despite the home invasion, Ty Warner, the 80-year-old CEO with a net worth of $6.1 billion, was unharmed during the incident. Malek-Aslanian and Warner have reportedly known each other for 25 years and are rumored to have a romantic relationship. The police were called to the scene, where they found Phay barricaded in a bathroom on the second floor of the mansion. After a crisis team attempted to negotiate with him, Phay jumped out of a window and was apprehended by authorities.
Phay, an Army combat veteran, is facing charges of kidnapping, burglary, and assault in addition to attempted murder. He has a history of run-ins with the law, including previous allegations of following his wife across state lines and making threats. In 2014, he was featured in a San Francisco Chronicle column discussing a specialized court system for military veterans, where he made chilling statements about his combat training.
The assailant is currently being held at the Santa Barbara County Southern Branch Jail and is set to appear in court on June 2. Malek-Aslanian, a financial advisor at NYLIFE Securities, has a background in architecture and has previously worked on projects related to properties owned by Warner. She holds degrees from Columbia University and Baruch College and is known to have ties to the Four Seasons Hotel on Billionaires’ Row in Manhattan.
The incident has shocked the community and raised concerns about security and safety in the affluent neighborhood. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the motive behind the attack and working to ensure justice is served for the victim.
