Rebecca Zahau Found Dead at Historic Mansion 7/13/11

Dead Woman Found Naked, Bound at Historic Mansion

By CHRISTINA CARON
July 14, 2011



Police are investigating the death of Rebecca Zahau, 32, who was found bound and naked at a multimillion-dollar, historic mansion in Coronado, Calif., where a 6-year-old suffered a severe injury earlier in the week.

"This is a very bizarre death, there's no doubt about it," San Diego Sheriff's Capt. Tim Curran told reporters regarding Zahau's death.

Even so, police cannot say if will lead to a criminal investigation.

"There are some very unique ways" people might kill themselves, Curran said. "If it was determined to be a suicide, people will do some very bizarre things."

Authorities discovered Zahau on Wednesday, July 13, after a house guest, Adam Shacknai, told police he found her with a rope around her neck hanging from a balcony off the main house.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/dead-woman-rebecca-zahau-found-naked-bound-historic/story?id=14073115

Evidence at Spreckels mansion quickly pointed to suicide

Search warrant is unsealed, revealing more details of the investigation that led to the determination that Rebecca Zahau hanged herself.

By Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times
September 22, 2011

Reporting from San Diego -- A sheriff's homicide detective believed that the girlfriend of Coronado mansion owner Jonah Shacknai was the victim of foul play when he first arrived on the scene and discovered the body of Rebecca Zahau, according to a search warrant unsealed Tuesday.

But San Diego County Sheriff's Det. Brian Patterson quickly changed his mind about Zahau's death once he had the legal authority to search the mansion.

In the application for the warrant, Patterson said he suspected Zahau had been murdered because her legs and feet had been tied.

Based on that suspicion, a judge approved the warrant for [i]detectives to search the Spreckels mansion owned by Shacknai, Zahau's boyfriend and a multimillionaire pharmaceutical executive.

But the search warrants suggest that Patterson and other investigators quickly decided that, although the circumstances were unusual, Zahau had committed suicide by hanging.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0922-mansion-death-20110922,0,44787.story

Sheriff launches forensic exam of Zahau’s cell phone; new witness accounts reported

Updated: Sep 22, 2011 3:04 AM EDT
By David Gotfredson, Field Producer

SAN DIEGO (CBS8) - The San Diego County Sheriff's Department has opened a new examination of data contained in the cell phone of Rebecca Zahau, the woman found hanging at the Spreckels mansion July 13.

Sheriff's homicide Lt. Larry Nesbit said that within the past week technology experts from his department started using newly-identified software to download data from Zahau's phone for forensic review.

"It constitutes a new examination of the evidence," Lt. Nesbit told News 8.

Sheriff investigators want to copy and save all the data contained in the smart phone used by Zahau, 32, in the days and weeks before she was found hanging from a balcony at the Coronado mansion.

"If it leads us to new information that's relevant to the case, then yes, you could consider that a re-opening of the case," Nesbit said.

Read more: http://www.cbs8.com/story/15520745/sheriff-launches-forensic-exam-of-zahaus-cell-phone-new-witnesses-accounts-reported

Attorney: Zahau Death Might Not Be Suicide

New details may re-open the case

By Tony Shin
Thursday, Sep 22, 2011

Nationally known attorney Anne Bremner says she's almost done with her investigation into the mysterious death of Rebecca Zahau.

And now she's revealing some of her findings, which could re-open the case and shed new light on what happened at the Spreckels Mansion on July 13 when the body of Rebecca Zahau, 32, was found hanging from a balcony.

~Snipped~

"Just because it's possible that someone committed suicide, doesn't mean that the case should be closed, Bremner said. "We know there were clumps of hair that they found, there were gloves found at the scene, I always suggested that if there is a killer that he used gloves and that's why they didn't leave their DNA and fingerprints."

Bremner also points out that the doors are closed on the balcony where Zahau was found hanging. "Did she turn around and close the doors before she hung herself off the side?"

Read more: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/New-Details-In-Mansion-Death-Revealed-130329173.html

This case has been hinky from the start........... why anyone even entertained the idea that this was a suicide is beyond my comprehension. kh

khintx wrote:This case has been hinky from the start........... why anyone even entertained the idea that this was a suicide is beyond my comprehension. kh

I agree.

It is still officially a suicide, but I'm sure you can figure out my thoughts based on the section I put this thread in.

So, can the ones who determined this was a suicide explain how she tied up her hands and her feet before climbing up onto the balcony and jumping. How does somebody manage that houdini trick? Someone was in a mighty big hurry to get this case closed without adding up the facts.

Cali~ Val wrote a great article about this very subject. Check it out:

http://www.thehinkymeter.com/2011/09/07/rebecca-zahau-case-a-simple-case-of-leverage-and-math/

Rebecca Zahau case: A simple case of leverage…and math
Posted on September 7, 2011 by Valhall

Today we’re going to look at the San Diego Sheriff’s Department theory that Rebecca Zahau, after slipping a noose (that she made) over her head, wrapping that noose three times with a long-sleeve t-shirt, stuffing one sleeve in her mouth as a gag, then binding her own ankles and finally her own wrists, hopped to the railing of the balcony, leaned on her tip-toes over it until she did the last backflip of her life – plummeting to a hanging suicide death. And we’re going to talk about physics, math, and what’ s missing from the medical examiner’s report....... [see link]

If you liked this article, you might find these other two extremely interesting as well:

Rebecca Zahau case: A case of assumptions and factoids
Posted on September 22, 2011 by Valhall
http://www.thehinkymeter.com/2011/09/22/rebecca-zahau-case-a-case-of-assumptions-and-factoids/

Rebecca Zahau case: How Max’s accident didn’t happen
Posted on September 9, 2011 by Valhall
http://www.thehinkymeter.com/2011/09/09/rebecca-zahau-case-how-maxs-accident-didnt-happen/

This is another infuriatingly frustrating case! kh

it is absolutely absurd to believe this was a suicide. There is no way that she could have tied herself up before she allegedly committed suicide and who does that naked. Sorry someone is trying to cover it up.

Sounds like a cover-up of two murders. Who remains alive? Who benefits? Why has LE been so quick and eager to prove these were an accident and a suicide?
With Val following this, we can trust her to come up with more believable and proveable theories on these deaths.

Rebecca Zahau case: The T-shirt

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Valhall
The Hinky Meter

We’ve discussed several aspects of the crime scene described to us by San Diego Sheriff’s office in their press conference, as well as descriptions taken from the Medical Examiner’s autopsy report. One area we have not covered, that is both odd and problematic, is the blue T-shirt found wrapped around Rebecca Zahau’s neck and, as reported to police by Adam Shacknai, who found Rebecca hanging dead on the morning of July 13th, stuffed in her mouth apparently as a “gag”.

On page 8 of Dr. Lucas’s autopsy report it states:

Read more:

http://www.thehinkymeter.com/2011/10/10/rebecca-zahau-case-the-t-shirt/

Rebecca Zahau case: Attempting the impossible

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Valhall
The Hinky Meter

This should be extremely serious. But I can’t make it that way. So here goes my movie pitch.

Not since Joy Wray have you seen sunglasses this big! You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, but you won’t be able to deny, that what they claim Rebecca did…is pert near impossible.

I had been asked by someone over at the Coronado Patch if I could try to reproduce Rebecca’s suicide as it currently has been presented to us. This is a two part mock-up of what SDSO says happened on the morning of July 13th at the Shacknai mansion.

Read more and view videos:

http://www.thehinkymeter.com/2011/10/10/rebecca-zahau-case-attempting-the-impossible/

Rebecca Zahau case: The Gag, another impossibility

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Valhall
The Hinky Meter

We’re going to continue to work through demonstrating, both with words, engineering analysis and visual demonstrations, that the things the San Diego Sheriff’s Office has claimed Rebecca pulled off in what they have declared a suicide of epic proportions, just couldn’t have been done. Our last video was demonstrating that a flip over the balcony railing was virtually impossible. This one centers on the t-shirt that law enforcement and the medical examiner claim was “loosely” wrapped around Rebecca’s neck and used as a gag. (Allegedly to keep her from being heard as she plummeted to her self-appointed death.)

Read more:

http://www.thehinkymeter.com/2011/10/11/rebecca-zahau-case-the-gag-another-impossibility/



Uploaded by TheHinkyMeter on Oct 11, 2011

Demonstration of how Rebecca Zahau could not have wrapped her size of t-shirt around her neck 3 times and then tie a double knot without causing unconsciousness.

Hi there..Have looked intheo it.....Why do we think She Hung herself --O'....the only man who was there @ "found" Her sayid this to ploice...Otherwise ---She was found On the grownd..face down..bownd. If she hung there all these hours ---would not Ms. Zahau have 'Lividity a Her Lower extremities ? + the hands...also the rope wasn't freyd....the Lividity was found to be at Her Back. would that not Imply....that after beeing strangled...She layd there untill the early mornning? But there seemed to have been a "need to "Cut her down"...@ the dna would have an explenation.......Ms. Zahau----was found, in an disrespected way, ---the sceen, @ was remained there Uncovered as well......

Very interesting interview! You can hear the entire interview by clicking on the arrow above the article text. Interview is 1 Hr. 20 Min. (1:20)

AUDIO:
Nina Romano talks to News 8
~~~~~~

Exclusive: Max Shacknai’s aunt talks about Coronado mansion deaths

Posted: Nov 07, 2011 8:42 PM CST
Updated: Nov 07, 2011 9:57 PM CST

By David Gotfredson, Field Producer
KFMB - San Diego, CA


AUDIO:
Nina Romano talks to News 8:

CORONADO, Calif. (CBS 8) - Nina Romano was confused about what happened to her nephew at the Spreckels mansion from the moment Rebecca Zahau picked her up at Lindbergh Field.

Max Shacknai, 6, suffered grave injuries in a fall down the mansion's main staircase on the morning of July 11, according to the boy's autopsy report.

Zahau, 32, was babysitting Max at the time of his fall and Romano flew down from her home near Sacramento that same night.

"We got in the car and the first thing I said was, ‘Rebecca what happened?'" recalled Romano.

"I heard Maxie was walking up the stairs and he had a cardiac arrest. That makes no sense to me. I said, ‘He's a six year old boy. He's a healthy boy. He plays soccer. He plays sports. I don't understand.' And (Rebecca) just looked at me and she said, ‘I know.' And that was it," said Romano, 41, during a two-hour interview detailing the events.

Read more, view videos and listen to the Audio Interview:

http://www.cbs8.com/story/15982091/exclusive-max-shacknais-aunt-talks-about-coronado-mansion-deaths



Max Shacknai & Nina Romano

Rebecca Zahau case: SDSO’s hypocrisy knows no bounds

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Valhall
The Hinky Meter

You’re going to think I’m making this up, but I’m not.

San Diego County Sheriff’s office public relations director, Jan Caldwell, was asked for a statement from the SDSO concerning the upcoming Dr. Phil show this Thursday in which the results of a second autopsy performed on Rebecca by Dr. Cyril Wecht will be disclosed. This is what the SDSO have to say about this situation:

What is the point of the show? To spike ratings? It is at the cost and mental health of the family. It is so distasteful for Rebecca and poor little Max… It is a sad commentary on American society that we are so caught up in this from the O.J. Simpson trial, Lindsay Lohan to Michael Jackson. It is voyeuristic. When it applies to this tragedy it is unspeakable.

lawlz – I kid you not.

This comment comes from the same law enforcement agency that made the decision to leave Rebecca Zahau’s naked and bound dead body fully exposed to every lookee-loo with a television for over 12 hours. The same agency that upon arrival at the Spreckels mansion not only did not afford Rebecca’s body any respect, they finished taking all dignity from the poor woman.

Read more:

http://www.thehinkymeter.com/2011/11/07/rebecca-zahau-case-sdsos-hypocrisy-knows-no-bounds/

Dr. Phil Show

Thursday - November 10, 2011

The Mysterious Death of Rebecca Zahau



Was it suicide or foul play? On July 13, Rebecca Zahau, 32, was found dead in a historic California mansion owned by her boyfriend, Medicis Pharmaceutical CEO Jonah Shacknai. Investigators say Shacknai’s brother found the woman nude, hanging from a second-story balcony with her feet bound and hands tied behind her back. Zahau’s death occurred two days after Shacknai’s 6-year-old son reportedly fell from a second-floor banister while in her care. The boy died of his injuries three days after Rebecca's body was found. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department announced its finding that Rebecca committed suicide, but Zahau’s family says there are mysterious circumstances surrounding her death, and they think she was murdered. Can someone bind their own hands and feet before hanging themselves? Was the cryptic message painted on a nearby door a suicide note or a message from a killer? The family has ordered a reexamination of the facts, along with an independent autopsy to be conducted by renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht, who has claimed that ruling Zahau’s death a suicide was a hasty conclusion. Dr. Phil is by the family's side as they hear the latest autopsy results. Will these findings bring answers or just more questions? If there is indication of foul play, who is responsible? And, can Rebecca’s loved ones find closure after their tragic loss?

Source:

http://www.drphil.com/shows/
Dr. Phil.com - Shows This Week

‘Dr. Phil’ show on mansion autopsy results delayed

By Kristina Davis, Reporter - Public safety
SignOnSanDiego - San Diego, CA

Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 3:36 p.m.

The results of a second autopsy in the hanging death of Rebecca Zahau at a Coronado mansion will now be aired on the “Dr. Phil” television show in two parts on Monday and Tuesday, rather than on Thursday as previously scheduled, a show spokeswoman said.

Read more:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/nov/08/dr-phil-show-on-mansion-autopsy-results-delayed/

No Dr. Phil show about Rebecca Zahau on Thursday.

Rescheduled for next Monday & Tuesday!

I checked the Show Pages of Dr. Phil's shows and this is what is now indicated for Thursday:

Thursday - November 10, 2011

A Father Accused: Who's Telling the Truth?

‘Dr. Phil’ show on mansion death gets mixed reactions.

Kristina Davis
1:18 p.m., Nov. 14, 2011

The first of two “Dr. Phil” episodes to explore the Coronado mansion hanging death of Rebecca Zahau is set to air at 3 p.m. today on KFMB-TV, Channel 8, although East Coast viewers are already opining on the death via social media.

Zahau’s family and their attorney were interviewed about the July 13 death, which they have vehemently argued was not a suicide.

Read more: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/nov/14/dr-phil-show-on-mansion-death-gets-mixed-reactions/

Mixed DNA ‘all over’ Zahau death scene; some evidence not tested

Updated: Nov 17, 2011 7:05 PM EST
By David Gotfredson, Field Producer

CORONADO, Calif. (CBS 8) - Sheriff investigators confirmed Wednesday the presence of unidentified, mixed DNA samples found at Coronado's Spreckels mansion where Rebecca Zahau, 32, was reportedly found hanged to death.

Zahau family attorney Anne Bremner first revealed that mixed DNA was found at the death scene during the airing of the Dr. Phil Show earlier this week.

"We have mixed DNA in this case all over, in things like the knife, the bed frame, black gloves," said Bremner on the syndicated television talk show. "Mixed DNA unexplained as to who these other donors are."

"It's a case that just cries out for answers and investigation. We have mixed DNA in her fingernails," the Seattle-based attorney said.

Read more: http://www.760kfmb.com/story/16068012/mixed-dna-all-over-zahau-death-scene-some-evidence-not-tested

Rebecca Zahau: Dr. Phil’s investigation turns up inconclusive

Updated: 3:42 pm, Wed Nov 16, 2011.
by Ruth Fine

Dr. Cyril Wecht, a private pathologist hired by Dr. Phil, announced Tuesday that Rebecca Zahau’s death remains “inconclusive” after a second autopsy was performed as a result of the bizarre death at the Spreckles mansion in Coronado.

Despite Wecht’s recommendation to further the investigation, Coronado police insist their autopsy has already confirmed Zahau’s suicide. Coronado police have also suggested that private investigators hired by Dr. Phil and Zahau’s family are “selectively releasing things without telling the whole story and changing the facts they do know.”

Read more: http://www.scoopsandiego.com/news/rebecca-zahau-dr-phil-s-investigation-turns-up-inconclusive/article_6ea25dc6-1082-11e1-b9c3-0019bb30f31a.html

http://www.thehinkymeter.com/2011/11/19/rebecca-zahau-case-gore-loses-the-plot/

Shocking!

Just when you think this case can't get any worse!

kh

Attorney: 'Bondage porn' found on Coronado mansion computer

Updated: Nov 20, 2011 1:19 AM EST
By David Gotfredson, Field Producer

~Snipped~

Also on [Ann] Bremner's Facebook page Friday evening was a posting that read, "…a person of interest in the case viewed porn on his iPhone before ‘discovering' her body.'"

The Facebook posting has since been removed but Sheriff's investigators have said it was Adam Shacknai who discovered Zahau's body around 6:30 a.m. on July 13.

Bremner said Adam Shacknai claimed during a lie detector examination that he was viewing pornography on his iPhone just before he walked out of the mansion guest house and found Zahau hanging.

Read more: http://www.760kfmb.com/story/16083634/zahau-attorney-bondage-porn-found-on-coronado-mansion-computer

Now that's a fine howdy do...How much weirder can it get?

Dr. Cyril Wecht was a guest on Websleuth's radio tonight. Very interesting and informative show. As you know, Dr. Wecht did the second autopsy on Rebecca Zahau.

When Tricia of WS posts the show, I'll post the Link here. Or . . . if someone sees that it is available for listening, please post the link. Thanks!

This is the link to the Websleuth's Radio Show from tonight, 11-20-11. Dr. Cyril Wecht was the guest. Cynic of Websleuths also commented.

It was a great show!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/websleuths/2011/11/21/baby-lisa-irwin-rebecca-zahau-dr-cyril-wecht
Blog Talk Radio - Websleuths Radio show 11/20/11

This thread has not been updated in a real long time.

Folks at The Hinky Meter are up to date on this case and Valhall has written many articles about the Rebecca Zahau case.

In the Forum (discussion) at The Hinky Meter, you can find numerous Links to articles and videos regarding this case. Also, you can read the comments.

You do not have to be a member of The Hinky Meter to read in the Forum.

This is the Link to numerous articles written by Valhall:

http://www.thehinkymeter.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=57
The Hinky Meter - Forum: Rebecca Zahau Case

If any of the new members would like to post some older articles on the Rebecca Zahau thread, please feel free to do so.

The last article posted here was in Nov., 2011. In January, 2012, I linked to The Hinky Meter for articles and updates.

If you need help in posting articles in the format that is used at Reality Chatter, please ask and Julie or I will gladly help you.

Ann - Tx wrote:
If any of the new members would like to post some older articles on the Rebecca Zahau thread, please feel free to do so.

The last article posted here was in Nov., 2011. In January, 2012, I linked to The Hinky Meter for articles and updates.

If you need help in posting articles in the format that is used at Reality Chatter, please ask and Julie or I will gladly help you.

Also read this for copyright, legal stuff, etc.

http://www.realitychatter.com/t2566-posting-guidelines#57134

http://www.cbs8.com/story/16150816/911-call-released-in-hanging-death-at-coronados-spreckels-mansion

911 call released in hanging death at Spreckels mansion

http://www.10news.com/news/29243040/detail.html?treets=sand&tid=26513569972813&tml=sand_break&tmi=sand_break_1_11010209202011&ts=H

Warrants Reveal New Details About Coronado Mansion Deaths

http://www.10news.com/pdf/29245451/detail.html

Search Warrant 1: AT&T Wireless Records (PDF)

http://www.10news.com/pdf/29245478/detail.html

Search Warrant 2: Items Seized From Mansion (PDF)

http://www.10news.com/pdf/29245515/detail.html

Search Warrant 3: Verizon Wireless Records (PDF)

http://www.autopsyfiles.org/reports/Other/shacknai,%20max_report.pdf

Max Shacknai Autopsy Report

http://www.scribd.com/doc/64114521/Reports

Rebecca Zahau Autopsy Report

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7129111#post7129111

Link to Cynic's visual aids on RZ's head injuries

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7355458&postcount=111

Link to Cynic's visual aids on RZ's back injuries

http://www.sdsheriff.net/coronado/ms.pdf

SDSO Max Investigation

http://www.sdsheriff.net/coronado/me-ms.pdf

SDSO Max Shacknai Autopsy

http://www.sdsheriff.net/coronado/index.html

Coronado Death Investigation

http://www.cbs8.com/story/15982091/exclusive-max-shacknais-aunt-talks-about-coronado-mansion-deaths

Exclusive: Max Shacknai’s aunt talks about Coronado mansion deaths

Mother's Day - today - is certainly going to be a very sad day for Rebecca's mom and Max's mom.

Tragic.

http://www.cbs8.com/story/16049618/pathologist-hanging-would-have-broken-zahaus-neck

Pathologist: Hanging would have broken Zahau’s neck

http://www.760kfmb.com/story/16068012/mixed-dna-all-over-zahau-death-scene-some-evidence-not-tested

Mixed DNA ‘all over’ Zahau death scene; some evidence not tested

http://www.cbs8.com/story/16083634/zahau-attorney-bondage-porn-found-on-coronado-mansion-computer

Attorney: 'Bondage porn' found on Coronado mansion computer

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2011/nov/17/death-in-coronado-the-sheriffs-case-for-suicide/

Death in Coronado: The sheriff’s case for suicide