Ty beanie babies line a small shelf at the Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District in Bonita Springs on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.
Montecito, California – A woman is in a coma after she was brutally assaulted during a break-in last Wednesday at the Montecito mansion of Ty Warner, the billionaire founder of Beanie Babies, according to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities identified the victim as 60-year-old Linda Malek-Aslanian, a financial services professional from New York who previously worked for Warner’s hotel division. The criminal complaint states she is now “comatose due to brain injury” following the violent attack.
The suspect, Russell Maxwell Phay, 42, of Nevada, was arrested at the scene and faces a series of felony charges including attempted murder, burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, battery with serious bodily injury, kidnapping, and obstruction. He is being held without bail at the Southern Branch Jail.
Deputies responded to a possible home invasion or vehicle theft around 4:30 p.m. on May 21 at the 1000 block of Fairway Road, an exclusive enclave in Montecito. Upon arrival, they found Malek-Aslanian severely injured outside the residence. EMT’s rushed her to a nearby hospital where she remains in critical condition.
According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, Phay barricaded himself in an upstairs bathroom inside the home, prompting authorities to call in their Special Enforcement Team and Crisis Negotiation Team, along with CHP and Santa Barbara Police. Authorities deployed aerial surveillance and armored rescue vehicles amid concerns that hostages may have remained inside.
After it was determined all other occupants—including Warner himself—had safely escaped, deputies attempted to negotiate with Phay. He eventually tried to flee by climbing out a second-story window, but was caught after jumping to the ground.
The motive for the break-in remains unclear, and authorities have not confirmed whether Malek-Aslanian and Phay knew each other. Warner’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
Phay has a history of violent behavior. A 2014 San Francisco Chronicle article highlighted his participation in a special veterans court after threatening his ex-wife. He has also been arrested in prior incidents in Shasta County, including a 2017 bus assault in which he allegedly struck multiple people after claiming someone stole his tools.
Warner, 80, is known for his reclusive lifestyle and extensive real estate holdings, including the Four Seasons Hotel New York. He was previously sentenced to probation in 2014 for federal tax evasion after failing to report more than $24 million in income.
The investigation into the May 21 break-in remains ongoing.
