MONTECITO, Calif. (AP) – A 42-year-old man from Nevada, Russell Maxwell Phay, was arrested on allegations of attempted murder and kidnapping following a violent attack on a woman during a break-in at the mansion of Beanie Babies creator Ty Warner. Authorities reported the incident, which occurred on May 21 at Warner's home in coastal Montecito, located northwest of Los Angeles.
The victim, identified as L. Malek-Aslanian in the criminal complaint, suffered a severe brain injury during the assault and is currently in a coma. Court documents detail that Ty Warner, the billionaire and founder of the popular toy company that experienced a surge in popularity during the 1990s, was present in the house during the incident but was unharmed. The nature of Warner's relationship with Malek-Aslanian remains unclear.
Phay was taken into custody after a standoff with law enforcement officials, during which he barricaded himself in a bathroom. He eventually attempted to evade capture by jumping out of a second-floor window, as stated by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office. Following the confrontation, he was charged with multiple offenses, including attempted murder, kidnapping, assault, and burglary. As of now, Phay has pleaded not guilty to these charges.
Efforts to locate a lawyer for Phay have so far been unsuccessful, and the public defender's office has not responded to inquiries about potential representation for him. Background checks reveal that Phay has a lengthy criminal history, having multiple prior convictions and having served time in prison or jail; however, specific details regarding his previous offenses were not immediately available.
Phay is currently being held in custody, with bail set at $100,000. Investigating authorities have not disclosed a clear motive for the attack and have not confirmed whether Phay had any prior acquaintance with Malek-Aslanian. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and additional information may be forthcoming as authorities continue to gather evidence.
As the situation evolves, a request for an update on the victim’s condition has been directed to the Santa Barbara County district attorney’s office, reflecting the community's concern for L. Malek-Aslanian's health and recovery process.
