Charges of first-degree attempted murder have been leveled against Russell Maxwell Phay, a 42-year-old from Henderson, Nevada, following an alarming incident at the Montecito residence of Beanie Babies creator Ty Warner. On Wednesday, Phay is accused of breaking into Warner’s home and violently assaulting a 60-year-old financial services executive, Linda Malek-Aslanian, leaving her in a coma due to a severe brain injury.
District Attorney John Savrnoch described Phay as a notably large individual, standing at about 6’3” and weighing approximately 250 pounds. The charges assert that Phay acted with willful and premeditated intent during the incident. It is important to note that there is no evidence suggesting that Phay was aware that he was breaking into Warner’s home at the time of the attack.
Malek-Aslanian, formerly an asset manager for Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts, was reportedly employed by New York Life Insurance at the time. Phay is being held in the county jail with bail set at $1 million on several charges, including attempted murder, residential burglary, and kidnapping. He has pleaded not guilty to all accusations and faces a preliminary hearing set for June 2.
The chaotic nature of the assault saw Phay barricade himself in a second-story bathroom when law enforcement arrived, suspecting a hostage situation. Multiple agencies responded with significant force, including the deployment of an armored vehicle and a helicopter. Ultimately, he was apprehended after a dramatic jump from the bathroom window, which led to his capture by sheriff’s K-9 units.
With a military background, Phay had been slated to serve in Kuwait before his deployment was canceled, and he subsequently encountered personal and legal troubles, including past domestic violence against his wife and other brushes with law enforcement. Savrnoch emphasized the seriousness of Phay’s alleged actions and his potential danger to society, citing a history of increasingly severe criminal offenses.
This incident raises significant concerns about mental health support for veterans and the challenges faced by individuals returning to civilian life. On a hopeful note, this situation could shine a light on the urgent need for effective mental health intervention and resources for former military personnel, potentially benefitting many in similar circumstances.