Break-In at Ty Warner's Montecito Mansion Leaves Former Employee in Coma

(Left) The scene outside Ty Warner's Montecito mansion following the break-in on May 21, 2025. Photo courtesy Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office; Right) Ty Warner in Chicago on Oct. 2, 2013. / Photo courtesy Anthony Souffle/Chicago Tribune/Tribune

On May 21, 2025, a violent home invasion at the Montecito estate of Beanie Babies billionaire Ty Warner left a woman in a coma and a suspect facing multiple felony charges. The disturbing incident unfolded in the upscale 1000 block of Fairway Road, in one of California’s most exclusive neighborhoods.

Authorities say the break-in occurred around 4:30 p.m. when deputies responded to reports of a possible vehicle theft or home invasion in progress. Upon arrival, they discovered 60-year-old L. Malek-Aslanian outside the residence with severe injuries. She was immediately transported to a nearby hospital and remains in critical condition.

Malek-Aslanian, a financial services expert who previously worked with Warner’s hotel ventures, is believed to have been inside the home at the time of the attack. According to the criminal complaint filed by the Santa Barbara District Attorney's Office, she was assaulted by 43-year-old Russell Maxwell Phay of Nevada. Investigators say Phay managed to gain access to the mansion before violently attacking Malek-Aslanian.

Following the assault, Phay reportedly barricaded himself inside an upstairs bathroom. In an attempt to evade arrest, he leapt from a second-story window but was quickly apprehended by deputies on the scene. He now faces a long list of felony charges including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, battery causing serious bodily injury, kidnapping, and burglary. His bail has been set at an extraordinary $100 million.

Warner, whose estimated net worth exceeds $6 billion, was reportedly home during the attack. It remains unclear whether he witnessed the assault or was directly involved in any altercation. Authorities have indicated that there is no known connection between Phay and the victim, suggesting the attack may have been random or opportunistic.

The quiet, affluent community of Montecito is still reeling from the event, as questions linger about how the assailant gained access to such a well-secured estate, and what his motives may have been.

Ty Warner rose to fame and fortune in the 1990s as the creator of Beanie Babies. Since then, he has invested heavily in high-end real estate and hospitality, including properties like the Four Seasons Hotel in New York and Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Mexico.

The investigation remains active, and updates on Malek-Aslanian’s condition are expected as more details emerge.

Source: Fox LA