Dateline NBC “Death at the Spa” December 26 2025 Recap & Preview
On Friday, December 26, Dateline NBC presents “Death at the Spa,” a chilling investigation into a shocking explosion at a California day spa that left one woman dead and two others seriously injured. Reported by Josh Mankiewicz, the episode examines the deadly bombing and the twisted motive behind the calculated attack.
The story begins in May 2018, when a powerful blast ripped through Mai Kieu Spa in Aliso Viejo, California. The explosion claimed the life of 48-year-old esthetician Ildiko Krajnyak, a mother and business owner beloved by her clients and community. Two of her customers, present at the time, sustained serious injuries in the blast. As investigators arrived on the scene, they quickly ruled out an accident. It became clear that the device had been deliberately planted and that Ildiko was the specific target.
The investigation led federal and local authorities down a trail of digital evidence, suspicious purchases, and a strained personal relationship. Attention soon turned to Ildiko’s ex-boyfriend, Stephen Beal, a model rocket hobbyist with a background in chemistry. Beal, who claimed he had nothing to do with the crime, had been in a volatile relationship with Krajnyak. As detectives dug deeper, they uncovered emails, surveillance footage, and components in Beal’s home that matched the materials used in the bomb.
Despite the circumstantial nature of the evidence, prosecutors eventually charged Beal with multiple counts, including use of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death. The case raised troubling questions about how far someone might go in the wake of a breakup and how dangerous knowledge in the wrong hands can become.
With exclusive interviews and access to investigative records, Dateline’s “Death at the Spa” brings viewers inside the search for justice following a senseless act of violence. Josh Mankiewicz guides the hour-long broadcast, uncovering the details that turned a day of beauty into a deadly tragedy. Tune in at 9/8c on NBC.
