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A 60-year-old financial executive is in a coma after a brutal assault inside the Montecito mansion of Beanie Babies billionaire Ty Warner. The attack was allegedly carried out by a former Army combat veteran who believed the house was his.
Russell Maxwell Phay, 42, of Henderson, Nevada, faces multiple felony charges. These include first-degree attempted murder, kidnapping, residential burglary, and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury. He also faces a charge of resisting arrest after allegedly breaking into the Beanie Babies billionaire’s estate last Wednesday. He is currently being held in Santa Barbara County Jail on $1 million bail and is scheduled for arraignment Monday, with a preliminary hearing the following day.
The victim, Linda Malek-Aslanian, was found outside the property with life-threatening injuries and is now comatose due to a severe brain injury. According to her LinkedIn profile, Malek-Aslanian currently works in financial services with New York Life Insurance. She previously served as an asset manager for Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts from 2004 to 2015.
Beanie Babies Montecito Mansion Attacker Deemed ‘Serious Danger to Society,’ Says DA
Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch said Phay, a 6’3″, 250-pound man, acted in a “willful, deliberate, and premeditated” manner. While no weapon was used, the sheer force of the alleged beating caused devastating injuries. Savrnoch’s charging documents note that Malek-Aslanian was “particularly vulnerable,” and that Phay poses “a serious danger to society.”
The incident unfolded at Warner’s $100 million estate on Fairway Road in Montecito, California, a celebrity enclave also home to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. According to investigators, Phay broke into the property, proclaimed it as his own, and demanded that everyone inside leave. Police initially believed the incident to be a hostage situation and launched a large-scale response. The operation included a BearCat armored vehicle, helicopter support, K-9 units, and crisis negotiators.
When authorities arrived, Phay had barricaded himself in an upstairs bathroom of the Beanie Babies’ CEO’s mansion. After negotiations failed, he tried to escape by jumping out of a second-story window. Deputies and K-9 officers quickly subdued him on the ground.
Phay’s history paints a troubling picture. Though he once served in the U.S. Army and was slated for deployment to Kuwait, his tour ended before he was sent overseas. After returning to civilian life, he faced multiple legal issues, including a violent attack on his wife when she attempted to flee with their child. That incident led to jail time, and subsequent run-ins with law enforcement followed. He was eligible for diversion programs aimed at military veterans with mental health struggles, though his post-release performance was described in court filings as “unsatisfactory.”
No Known Connection Between Attacker and Ty Warner
Authorities say there is no evidence that Phay personally knew Beanie Babies’ CEO Ty Warner or Malek-Aslanian. Warner, 80, was home at the time of the attack but was unharmed. Savrnoch said it’s unclear whether the two men were ever in the same room during the incident.
The high-profile case has sparked intense public reaction online, with many questioning how such an attack could occur at a billionaire’s estate.
“Billionaire and no security guards at the house?” one user posted. “Not that you should have to, but things have changed in California over the past decade or so, and not for the better.” Another commenter added, “One look at him says it all… beyond disturbed. Poor woman.”
Phay has pleaded guilty to all charges, according to local reports. The investigation remains ongoing as Malek-Aslanian continues to fight for her life.
