MONTECITO, Calif. — Authorities have apprehended a 42-year-old man from Nevada in connection with a violent incident at a Southern California mansion belonging to Ty Warner, the businessman behind Beanie Babies. The suspect, who is facing charges including attempted murder and kidnapping, allegedly attacked a woman during a break-in last week.
The victim, identified in court records as L. Malek-Aslanian, remains in a coma after sustaining a serious brain injury during the attack on May 21 in Montecito, a coastal area located northwest of Los Angeles. Ty Warner, the renowned founder of the company that produced the wildly popular stuffed toys in the 1990s, was present on the premises during the attack but was unharmed. The nature of Warner’s relationship with the victim is uncertain at this time.
Russell Maxwell Phay, the suspect, was taken into custody following a standoff with authorities. During the confrontation, Phay reportedly barricaded himself within a bathroom before making an escape attempt by jumping from a second-story window. According to a statement from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, this led to his eventual capture.
Phay, a resident of Henderson, Nevada, has been charged with several offenses, including attempted murder, kidnapping, assault, and burglary. He has entered a plea of not guilty. Attempts to reach Phay’s legal representation were unsuccessful, and the public defender’s office did not respond to inquiries about potential representation.
In court, prosecutors highlighted Phay’s criminal background, noting his previous convictions and time served in custody, although specific details of his past were not disclosed. With bail set at $100,000, Phay remains in custody. Meanwhile, authorities have yet to identify any motive behind the incident or establish any known relationship between the suspect and the victim.
The investigation remains active, and a request for further information on the victim’s condition has been sent to the Santa Barbara County district attorney’s office, as officials seek to uncover more details regarding this disturbing case.