A former US Army soldier is facing serious felony charges after allegedly breaking into the California mansion of Beanie Babies billionaire Ty Warner and beating a woman into a coma, in an attack he bizarrely claims was instructed by singer Katy Perry through a psychic connection.
The Alleged Attack at the Montecito Estate
Russell Maxwell Phay, 43, from Nevada, is charged with attempted murder, burglary, kidnapping and assault following the alleged incident on May 21. Authorities state he entered the sprawling $400 million, 6.58-acre coastal estate in Montecito while the reclusive tycoon was home with a 60-year-old guest, Linda Malek-Aslanian.
Detective Matthew Maxwell testified at a preliminary hearing that Warner heard a "blood-curdling" scream. Upon investigating, he encountered Phay, who then chased him through the property. Warner managed to escape to his garage, flee in his Mercedes, and alert staff at the nearby Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore to call 911.
When police arrived, they found Phay locked in a second-floor bathroom. He attempted to escape through a window but was apprehended on the ground by Santa Barbara County Sheriff's deputies and K9 units.
Bizarre Claims of a Psychic Link
Following his arrest, Phay made extraordinary statements to investigators. According to detective testimony reported by the Santa Barbara Independent, Phay claimed he was married to pop star Katy Perry and shared a 'head link' with her.
He allegedly told officers that Perry instructed him to go to the home, which he believed was hers, and he did not expect anyone to be there. Upon encountering Malek-Aslanian, Phay reportedly said he believed she was Perry's mother and that she had been molesting the singer.
The subsequent violent assault was reportedly captured on camera, showing Phay kicking and stomping on Malek-Aslanian before dragging her outside and dumping her into a pond. The financial services expert, who once worked for Warner's hotels division, was left comatose with a brain injury.
A Troubled History and Family Pleas
Investigators soon discovered this was Phay's second alleged assault within days. He was also a suspect in an attack on Elaine Jensen in Arroyo Quemado. Jensen said she found Phay drinking from a hose in her yard and was assaulted when she asked him to stop. She was later found unconscious in her front yard.
Phay's family have since come forward, telling NBC News they had tried to warn authorities in the preceding week that he was 'in crisis' and could be dangerous. They describe him as a former Army infantry combat soldier with specialised weapons training, who suffers from 'severe schizophrenia'.
"We left multiple messages over the course of the week expressing our fear that Russell was spiralling and could harm someone," his relatives stated, adding they were "devastated" their alarms went unanswered and that "this tragedy might have been preventable."
Despite these claims, two psychologists testified that Phay is competent to stand trial, understanding the proceedings and able to assist in his defence. His criminal history spans multiple states and includes guilty pleas to assault, stalking, and menacing.
Phay, who served roughly 20 years ago, was released from a 512-day prison sentence in 2021 after an attack on his wife and was ordered to remain on parole in Colorado for two years. It is unclear if he was on parole during the Montecito incident.
He is now held without bail at Santa Barbara County Jail and is next due in court on February 2.
