FBI: 'Exhaustive' work links California man to deadly bomb

Federal prosecutors say a 59-year-old Long Beach man was arrested for a spa bombing that killed his ex-girlfriend last year after a painstaking analysis linked explosive remnants to the suspect, his home and car.

Stephen Beal had been arrested shortly after the bombing last year, but explosives charges were dropped and he was freed when prosecutors questioned whether material found at his home constituted a "destructive device." Further testing and investigation led to Beal's arrest Sunday on suspicion of malicious destruction of a building that included a death, a charge that can carry a life sentence.

The May 15 bombing killed 48-year-old Ildiko Krajnyak and seriously wounded two female clients when she opened a box that erupted in a fiery explosion at the spa in the city of Aliso Viejo.

U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna said at a news conference "this was a horrific intentional attack that killed an innocent woman and severely injured two others." Hanna says Krajnyak had told friends she was afraid of Beal after he made threats following their breakup. Beal told investigators he felt betrayed when she told him she was in a relationship with another man.

Authorities suspect Beal, a partner in the salon, delivered the bomb to the business while Krajnyak was visiting family in Hungary.

Krajnyak had returned from that trip and had just finished treating a mother and daughter, who were at the front desk when she opened a cardboard box that exploded.