Beanie Baby break-in: Woman in coma after violent home invasion at Beanie Babies creator Ty Warner’s home

The Montecito, California, mansion of Beanie Babies creator Ty Warner became the scene of a brutal home invasion on May 21, 2025. The attack left 60-year-old Linda Malek-Aslanian in a coma, raising serious concerns about mental health interventions and public safety.

A violent intrusion in a billionaire’s sanctuary

Warner, the billionaire behind the 1990s Beanie Babies craze, was present but unharmed during the violent break-in. According to SFGATE, police allege the suspect, 42-year-old Russell Maxwell Phay, forced entry into the residence, assaulted Malek-Aslanian, and then barricaded himself in an upstairs bathroom. He attempted to escape by jumping from a second-story window but was apprehended by law enforcement.

Malek-Aslanian, a financial services expert with ties to Warner’s hotel ventures, suffered severe brain trauma and remains in a coma. Authorities have not disclosed the nature of her relationship with Warner, though some reports suggest a possible romantic involvement.

The suspect’s troubled past

Phay, an Army veteran from Nevada, has a documented history of legal issues and mental health struggles, including schizophrenia. His family had reportedly warned Colorado’s Department of Corrections about his deteriorating mental state just days before the attack, expressing fears that he might harm someone. These warnings, however, went unheeded.

Phay faces multiple felony charges, including first-degree attempted murder, residential burglary, assault, kidnapping, and inflicting great bodily injury resulting in a coma. He has pleaded not guilty and is currently held without bail at the Santa Barbara County Southern Branch Jail, with a court appearance scheduled for June 2.

Beanie Babies: from collectible craze to cultural icon

Beanie Babies took the world by storm in the 1990s. These small, plush toys filled with plastic pellets became a massive fad, with collectors and investors driving up their value. Ty Inc., Warner’s company, was among the first to leverage the internet for direct consumer engagement, contributing to the toys’ meteoric rise.

Though the Beanie Babies craze eventually subsided, the brand has endured, with Ty Inc. continuing to release new designs and licensed characters. Warner’s success with Beanie Babies significantly contributed to his estimated net worth of $6.1 billion.