It started as a normal day in Montecito, California — the ultra-exclusive enclave where celebrities like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reside.
But on May 21, a horrifying incident turned the quiet luxury of Ty Warner’s $400 million mansion into the scene of a brutal attack that has left one woman in a coma and a community in shock.
An Unthinkable Break-In at the Beanie Babies Mogul’s Estate
According to authorities, 42-year-old Russell Maxwell Phay — an Army combat veteran — allegedly forced his way into Ty Warner’s estate and violently assaulted 60-year-old Linda Malek-Aslanian.
The attack was so severe that she suffered a brain injury and has since been in a coma.
Phay was eventually arrested after a tense standoff with police.
He had locked himself in a bathroom before leaping from a second-story window of the sprawling 6.58-acre property.
A Family’s Alarming Warnings Were Reportedly Ignored
Phay’s relatives say this tragedy didn’t come out of nowhere — they saw it coming and tried to warn authorities.
His siblings told NBC News that they had made multiple calls to the Colorado Department of Corrections in the days leading up to the attack, expressing fears that he was “spiraling” and “could harm someone.”
“We left multiple messages over the course of the week,” one family member said, “but no one ever got back to us.”
Years of Struggles with Mental Illness
Phay served in the U.S. Army about 20 years ago, but his family claims that after returning to civilian life, he was never the same.
They say he was diagnosed with severe schizophrenia, which turned him from a kind man into someone unstable — and at times, violent.
His family is now expressing heartbreak not only for the victim but for the version of their brother they say they’ve already lost.
“We are devastated that our efforts to sound the alarm went unanswered,” they said.
Chilling Phone Calls and Missed Red Flags
In the weeks before the Montecito break-in, Phay had been making disturbing phone calls to family members.
One sibling, who asked to remain anonymous, said the conversations made little sense and left them frightened.
Despite no explicit threats, they were clearly concerned enough to call corrections officials. Again, no response.
It wasn’t until four days after the attack that the family learned Phay had been arrested — only when he called a relative from jail.
A History of Violence and Legal Troubles
Phay’s criminal record stretches across several states. He has pleaded guilty in past years to charges like stalking, menacing, and assault.
In 2018, he was arrested in Siskiyou County, California for battery and assault, although the charges were eventually dismissed.
In 2014, he reportedly threatened his wife and tracked her across state lines after she fled with their son.
He served a 512-day prison sentence and was supposed to remain on parole in Colorado for two years after his 2021 release.
While it’s unclear if he was still under supervision at the time of the Montecito attack, his family says officials confirmed he was.
A Veteran Failed by the System?
After his release, Phay had been enrolled in diversion programs intended to help veterans with mental health issues.
In a previous interview with The San Francisco Chronicle, he acknowledged both the severity of his condition and the training he received in the military, saying, “I was trained to eliminate you.”
Even he admitted how chilling that sounded — but insisted it was part of his reality as a former combat soldier.
His parole program was supposed to help, but whether it actually did remains uncertain.
Victim Was Known to Ty Warner — But Not Well
Authorities say Linda Malek-Aslanian, the woman who was attacked, had previously worked in a division of Ty Warner’s hotels business.
She now works at New York Life, according to brokerage records.
Officials aren’t sure why Phay chose Warner’s home, or whether he even knew the victim.
Prosecutors described her as “particularly vulnerable” and confirmed she was held against her will.
Ty Warner, the 80-year-old founder of Beanie Babies, was home during the attack but was unharmed.
He managed to escape and call for help, according to the District Attorney’s office.
Prosecutors Say Phay Is a Threat to Society
Phay has pleaded not guilty to a range of serious charges, including attempted murder, kidnapping, burglary, and assault.
He’s currently being held without bail at Santa Barbara County jail.
Prosecutors say he entered Warner’s home intending to commit larceny and inflicted “great bodily injury” on Malek-Aslanian.
District Attorney John Savrnoch said there’s no evidence Phay knew either the victim or Warner personally, but called him “a serious danger to society.”
A Family Grieves — For the Victim and for the Brother They Lost
Phay’s family says they are devastated for Malek-Aslanian and her loved ones, calling the attack “senseless” and tragic.
But they are also grieving the loss of the brother they once knew — and placing blame on the system they feel failed him, and failed to protect others from him.
“Our hearts are with her, her family, and everyone affected,” the siblings said.
“We are deeply saddened by the pain and trauma caused.
We are also grieving the brother we once knew — and the system that continues to fail so many families like ours.”
The Investigation Is Ongoing
As the community grapples with the shocking violence, police say the investigation is still active.
Many questions remain: Why did Phay target this specific home? Could this attack have been prevented? And how many more families are trying — and failing — to get help for loved ones in crisis before it’s too late?