Rebecca Zahau Found Dead at Historic Mansion 7/13/11 #2

What a disgusting greedy pack of people. Money is their only concern clearly.

Tax information for Maxie's House npnprofit is available on Charity Navigator.

For the tax year ending Dec 2012:

Form 990 income: $171, 409

Income: $190, 212

Assets: $49,798

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.profile&ein=455639906#.UvrRBZDnacM

Info hasn't made it onto Guidestar yet.

http://www.guidestar.org/organizations/45-5639906/maxies-house.aspx

KZ wrote:Tax information for Maxie's House npnprofit is available on Charity Navigator.

For the tax year ending Dec 2012:

Form 990 income: $171, 409

Income: $190, 212

Assets: $49,798

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.profile&ein=455639906#.UvrRBZDnacM

Info hasn't made it onto Guidestar yet.

http://www.guidestar.org/organizations/45-5639906/maxies-house.aspx

So, does this mean it wasn't accepted as legal or what? It's now 2014, I guess I don't understand.

I forgot about this site, http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/hanging2.html
Potentially good information on there, as we see this trial unfold.

Rebecca Zahau

$10M lawsuit over death of Rebecca Zahau at Spreckels Mansion moves forward

Judge: Enough evidence to support claims

By: 10News Digital Team
Posted: 12:03 PM, Oct 17, 2014

SAN DIEGO - A $10 million lawsuit over one of San Diego's most mysterious deaths will move forward.

A judge ruled that there is enough evidence to support the claims made by the family of Rebecca Zahau.

On July 13, 2011, the 32-year-old Zahau was found naked and hanging from the second story balcony of the Spreckels Mansion in Coronado.

Two days prior, on July 11, Max Shacknai, the 6-year-old son of Zahau's millionaire boyfriend Jonah Shacknai, fell down some stairs and died three days later in what was considered a freak accident. At the time, he was under Zahau's care.

Read more:

http://www.10news.com/news/10m-lawsuit-over-death-of-rebecca-zahau-at-spreckels-mansion-moves-forward

_______________________

Zahau wrongful death suit goes forward

By Pauline Repard
8:32 p.m.Oct. 16, 2014

CORONADO — The family of Rebecca Zahau, whose nude body was found hanged at a historic Coronado mansion, can pursue their wrongful death lawsuit claiming she was murdered, a judge ruled Wednesday.

The lawsuit alleges that the ex-wife and brother of Zahau’s millionaire boyfriend conspired to batter Zahau, then cover up her death.

The defendants have denied the claim, calling it a “sham pleading” setting out facts that are implausible.

~Snipped~

The suit was initially dismissed, but U.S. District Judge Thomas Whelan ruled on Wednesday that an amended complaint alleged sufficient facts “to state a claim of wrongful death based on a conspiracy to batter.”

The suit alleges Dina struck Zahau on the back of the head four times with a blunt object, and Adam carried her into the house, where the three stripped off Zahau’s clothes and bound and gagged her. Adam is alleged to have tossed her off the balcony and, at Dina’s instructions, painted the odd message, “She saved him. Can you save her” on the door.

Whelan denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss the suit, saying he must look at the allegations in a light most favorable to the plaintiffs.

Read more:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/oct/16/zahau-coronado-suicide-wrongful-death-lawsuit/

Lawsuit accuses PV millionaire's ex-wife, brother of murder

Robert Anglen, The Republic | azcentral.com 6:53 a.m. MST October 21, 2014

VIDEO/ARTICLE:

http://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/2014/10/18/lawsuit-accuses-pv-millionaires-ex-wife-brother-murder/17491965/

Dina Shacknai's lawyers lambast lawsuit in Coronado hanging (Video)

Robert Anglen, The Republic | azcentral.com  6:59 a.m. MST October 24, 2014

Dina Shacknai says a lawsuit accusing her of murder in the 2011 California hanging death of her millionaire ex-husband's girlfriend is baseless and senseless.

Shacknai's lawyers this week lambasted a wrongful-death suit filed by relatives of Rebbecca Zahau, who was found hanging nude from the balcony of a Coronado Island mansion with her hands tied behind her back and feet bound.

"Dina Shacknai's reputation has been irreparably damaged by these allegations," Costa Mesa, Claif., attorney Kim Schumann said in a statement. "We intend to swiftly and aggressively put an end to this matter by every legal means necessary, and will be taking appropriate steps to remedy Ms. Shacknai's reputational damages."

Read more:

http://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/2014/10/23/dina-shacknais-lawyers-lambast-lawsuit-coronado-hanging/17803753/

(Crime scene photo)

http://www.cbs8.com/story/22189885/family-of-rebecca-zahau-to-sue-sheriff-bill-gore-seeking-evidence-in-her-death

(Looking at the above picture it is impossible for me to believe that Rebecca did that to herself. There are many indications that Rebecca was hog-tied, and that the ligature between her neck, wrists and ankles was cut after she was dead for at least three hours; her knees stayed bent because rigor mortis had already set in before the rope was cut.)

Thank you AD for this info. I'm glad to see someone is finally listening to Rebecca's family's claim that she was murdered. Good to see movement in this case.

4 years after Coronado mansion death, Zahau family continues quest for justice

Posted 8:23 AM, July 14, 2015, by Jaime Chambers, Updated at 08:45am, July 14, 2015

CORONADO- It’s been four years since Rebecca Zahau’s nude body was found hanging from a balcony at a Coronado mansion with her hands and feet tied.

Investigators still stand behind their assertion that Rebecca’s death was a suicide, but her family members remain convinced it was an elaborate revenge killing. Attorneys for the Zahau family allege Adam Shacknai, Nina Romano, and Dina Shacknai are responsible for the murder.

In a $10 million wrongful death lawsuit, Zahau family attorney Keith Greer points to a string of evidence that suggests that this death was a murder. Greer points first to how her hands and feet were tied and that she was gagged.

“The only reason to gag somebody is to keep them quiet obviously, and if Rebeca is doing this herself she knows that when she jumps off, she will have a noose around her neck, and it will cut off her air and she will not be able to scream, “ said Greer.

Read more:

http://fox5sandiego.com/2015/07/14/4-years-after-coronado-mansion-death-zahau-family-rejects-suicide-claim/

From last link given:

"....The next status hearing on the case is set for February...."

http://fox5sandiego.com/2015/07/14/4-years-after-coronado-mansion-death-zahau-family-rejects-suicide-claim/

I am glad that Rebecca's family is suing. Closing this case as a suicide was grossly irresponsible and incompetent, IMO. I hope RZ's family prevails on their lawsuit and hopefully the case will be reopened as a murder investigation.

Mylife101 wrote:I am glad that Rebecca's family is suing. Closing this case as a suicide was grossly irresponsible and incompetent, IMO. I hope RZ's family prevails on their lawsuit and hopefully the case will be reopened as a murder investigation.

It looks like we might know next week if there will at least be a civil trial.  Oh, I hope so.  



Snipped quote:  A federal judge will decide next week whether one of San Diego County's most infamous cases deserves a civil trial.
http://www.10news.com/news/lawyer-new-evidence-proves-zahau-murdered

Just dropping in with a quick update:

It will be March 11 before we have a ruling.

CH 10 just had "breaking news" saying the judge says the Zahau case will move forward. Can't find anything on line to prove it.

Hmmm, before I logged in, when I checked this thread, I saw in the user side Sponsored content, and the post itself was blank, but said it was entered at 8:42 pm...I think not exactly sure of the time. Nothing on Websleuths about it at all.

Thanks for the heads-up, JunieforJustice.  Here's the article:

Judge: Zahau wrongful death case can go forward
10News Digital Team
5:51 PM, Mar 10, 2016

A wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Rebecca Zahau may be one step closer to a trial after a judge Thursday issued a tentative ruling that denies a request to have the case dismissed.

Read more:  http://www.10news.com/news/judge-zahau-wrongful-death-case-can-go-forward-031016

Thanks CP, I must have checked 10 times before I gave up. I see it there now, but not earlier. Maybe something wrong with my browser.

junie4justice wrote:Hmmm, before I logged in, when I checked this thread, I saw in the user side Sponsored content, and the post itself was blank, but said it was entered at 8:42 pm...I think not exactly sure of the time.  Nothing on Websleuths about it at all.

Apparently, this sponsored content was just added by forumotion.com, the site that hosts Reality Chatter. Only visible to those not logged in. It should disappear after you log in.

CuriousPortlander wrote:

junie4justice wrote:Hmmm, before I logged in, when I checked this thread, I saw in the user side Sponsored content, and the post itself was blank, but said it was entered at 8:42 pm...I think not exactly sure of the time.  Nothing on Websleuths about it at all.

Apparently, this sponsored content was just added by forumotion.com, the site that hosts Reality Chatter.  Only visible to those not logged in.  It should disappear after you log in.

Yes, it disappeared after logging in.

Ok, just checking CH 7's website and here is their article.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Coronado-Wrongful-Death-Lawsuit-Will-Go-to-Trial--371756572.html

In that article is another link about audio evidence, which I have never heard or seen before, maybe others have.

Audio evidence

Rebecca Zahau wrongful death lawsuit will go to trial
Posted: Mar 11, 2016 4:17 PM PST
Updated: Mar 12, 2016 12:06 PM PST

...In a hearing today before Judge Katherine Bacal, attorneys for the defendants failed in their efforts to get the case dismissed.

The judge set a trial date for March 10, 2017.

Read more:  http://www.cbs8.com/story/31451134/rebecca-zahau-wrongful-death-lawsuit-will-go-to-trial

junie4justice wrote:Ok, just checking CH 7's website and here is their article.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Coronado-Wrongful-Death-Lawsuit-Will-Go-to-Trial--371756572.html

In that article is another link about audio evidence, which I have never heard or seen before, maybe others have.

Audio evidence

Thanks for this, Junie!  From your link, this is about all that we have on the "audio evidence."  An "ear" witness, I guess.

If anyone is interested, there is also a video at that link where the witness verbalizes what she heard that night.


Snipped quote from article date May 9, 2015:  Keith Greer, the Zahau family attorney, told NBC 7 there is now a piece of evidence he thinks could be the key to this mysterious case: an audio recording of investigators interviewing a woman who was near the Spreckels Mansion before Zahau's body was discovered.

In the recording, the woman says she heard screaming coming from the mansion.

"It was clear, it wasn't a muffled or far off sound,” she told investigators, according to Greer.

“Give me an example of what you heard, if you were mimicking what you heard,” an investigator asked the woman on the audio recording.

“She went, ‘Ahh, ahh. Then she went help!’” the woman told the investigator.  End Snip
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Attorneys-New-Evidence-Rebecca-Zahau-Spreckels-Mansion-2011-Death-303178091.html

This is a pretty good video from the link below.

One of the defense attys has the following to say:

About 1:40 minutes in:  "None of those allegations specifically deal with the identity of the person who was alleged to have done all of those things."  

At least they no longer seem to be arguing that Rebecca's death was a suicide.


http://www.10news.com/news/judge-zahau-wrongful-death-case-can-go-forward-031016

I'm so pleased for Rebecca and her family!  The judge's ruling that this case can move forward to civil court is an amazing accomplishment.  I think it was thrown out two or three times, but her family kept trying.  Bless them.

Civil court = preponderance of the evidence.


Snipped quote:  The quantum of evidence that constitutes a preponderance cannot be reduced to a simple formula. A preponderance of evidence has been described as just enough evidence to make it more likely than not that the fact the claimant seeks to prove is true. It is difficult to translate this definition and apply it to evidence in a case, but the definition serves as a helpful guide to judges and juries in determining whether a claimant has carried his or her burden of proof.  End Snip
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Preponderance+of+Evidence

You're welcome Nan11 and thank you for your links too.

For Adam...

^^^ LOL, Colsnipe. A little humor is helpful at times.

Rebecca Zahau wrongful death trial begins seven years after body was found hanging from balcony

David Boroff
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Tuesday, February 27, 2018, 11:20 AM

The family of a woman whose body was found hanging at a California mansion nearly seven years ago is still looking for justice, even though authorities long ago ruled her death a suicide.

The wrongful death civil trial in connection with Rebecca Zahau's death begins this week in San Diego with jury selection.

Read more:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/rebecca-zahau-wrongful-death-trial-begins-california-article-1.3844542

Civil trial over the death of Rebecca Zahau begins

Posted: Feb 26, 2018 9:20 PM CST
Updated: Feb 27, 2018 7:15 PM CST



SAN DIEGO (NEWS 8) — A jury of six men and six women has been seated in the Rebecca Zahau wrongful death lawsuit trial with opening statements set to being at 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday.  

The first witnesses on the stand following opening statements will be Zahau's sister Mary Zahau-Loehner and her mother Pari Zahau, who are plaintiffs in the case.

The only remaining defendant in the civil case is Adam Shacknai who was staying in the guesthouse at the mansion property in Coronado on the night Rebecca Zahau died.

Zahau was reportedly found naked and hanging from a second-story balcony at a Coronado Mansion in July of 2011.

Read more:

http://www.cbs8.com/story/37597718/civil-trial-over-the-death-of-rebecca-zahau-begins

Thank you Alessandra_Deux

Hi vegret,

You are welcome!

Lawyer: Zahau was strangled, hanged at Coronado mansion in 2011


Adam Shacknai in San Diego Superior Court on Tuesday. He is accused in a wrongful death lawsuit of strangling and hanging Rebecca Zahau at the Coronado mansion of her boyfriend, Jonah Shacknai. (Nel Cepeda/San Diego Union-Tribune)


By Pauline Repard•Contact Reporter

February 28, 2018, 2:10 PM |San Diego


Attorney C. Keith Greer held a plastic-wrapped chef’s knife in his hands, placing his fingertips on the blade where Rebecca Zahau had left her own fingerprints.

The angle of his hands, he said, made sense only if he held his hands behind his back, the blade facing out.

Read more:

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/sd-me-zahau-openings-20180228-story.html

Jurors Hear Evidence in Coronado Mansion Mysterious Death (Video)

On July 13, 2011, Rebecca Zahau was found hanged at the home belonging to her boyfriend Jonah Schacknai. Jonah Schacknai's brother, Adam found her and called 911.

By R. Stickney

Published at 11:47 AM PST on Feb 28, 2018 | Updated 3 hours ago

Someone strangled Rebecca Zahau first before she was lowered over the balcony of a Coronado mansion in 2011, an attorney told jurors in San Diego Wednesday.

Attorney Keith Greer outlined several key pieces of evidence he says prove Adam Shacknai, 55, is responsible for Zahau's death.

Greer made the statements as the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Rebecca Zahau began Wednesday. Zahau was found dead at the Spreckels mansion more than six years ago.

Her death was ruled a suicide by investigators with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, but Greer outlined several points of evidence that he said shows the death was not a suicide.

Read more:

https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Opening-Statement-Rebecca-Zahau-Mansion-Mystery-Shacknai-San-Diego-475433983.html

Jury to rule on riddle of tycoon Jonah Shacknai’s hanged girlfriend Rebecca Zahau

Ben Hoyle, Los Angeles
March 1 2018, 12:01am,
The Times


Rebecca Zahau believed in God, was in love with life and would not commit suicide, her family claim

Rebecca Zahau’s body was found naked, bound and gagged, hanging from a balcony at her millionaire boyfriend’s Californian mansion.

Seven weeks later, to the disbelief of her family, the Sheriff of San Diego County announced that her death was a suicide.

They have always believed that the 32-year-old devout Christian was murdered. After a fight for justice that has lasted more than six years, a civil trial began in San Diego yesterday in which their legal team will try to marshal new evidence to prove it. The wrongful death lawsuit brought by Pari Zahau, her mother, and Mary Zahau-Loehner, her sister, alleges that the brother of Ms Zahau’s boyfriend sexually assaulted and strangled her before tipping her corpse off the balcony.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jury-to-rule-on-riddle-of-tycoon-jonah-shacknai-s-hanged-girlfriend-rebecca-zahau-0b2dllrzf

It makes me sick this has taken so long. (This is the worst case in San Diego history. Outrageous!)

May God bless the Zahau family.

Whoa! Dina saying it wasn't suicide BUT she doesn't think it's Adam??

https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/DINAClip2_San-Diego-419993313.html

That leaves Jonah?

Expert mariner shows how knots tied on Rebecca Zahau



By Pauline Repard•Contact Reporter
March 7, 2018, 3:00 PM

Lindsey Philpott leaned over the lifelike female mannequin, modestly draped in a white sheet, and wrapped a cord around its ankles.

He explained his knots to jurors as he wove the red polypropylene rope in figure eights until the mannequin’s heels and ankles were held firmly together.

A little later, he performed similar maneuvers with another length of cord, tying the mannequin’s wrists together.

Read more:

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/sd-me-zahau-day5-story.html

(In my opinion, this experiment is totally wrong).

___________________

Cryptic message found at Coronado mansion death scene takes center stage at trial


[size-13]Cryptic message found at Coronado mansion death scene takes center stage at trial
Defense attorney David Elsberg cross examines the plaintiffs' handwriting expert, Michael Wakshull, about his handwriting analysis on the painted note on the door. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)[/size]

By Teri Figueroa
Mar 06, 2018  |  8:05 AM

The message left in black on the door to the bedroom where Rebecca Zahau was found dead was cryptic. Two lines, no punctuation.

The first read: "She saved him" The next: "Can you save her"

Theories on just who wrote the enigmatic message took center stage in a San Diego courtroom Monday afternoon, during the third day of trial testimony rising from the wrongful death lawsuit brought by Zahau's family.

Read more:

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-mansion-trial-20180306-story.html

Parents of 6-year-old boy initially believed Rebecca Zahau saved their injured son


C. Keith Greer, attorney for plaintiff Mary Zahau-Loehner (left), reviews over his notes as the video playback of Dina Shacknai's deposition taken on January 11, 2018 is played in court for the jury. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)

By Pauline Repard•Contact Reporter
March 8, 2018, 3:45 PM |San Diego

For two days, the parents of 6-year-old Max Shacknai believed that Rebecca Zahau had saved his life after he was severely injured in a fall.

Jonah Shacknai and his ex-wife Dina Shacknai spent hours at Rady Children’s Hospital at Max’s bedside, where he lay in a medically induced coma.

In a videotaped deposition, Dina Shacknai recalled that after their son’s July 11, 2011 injury, her ex-husband told her, “you should get down on your knees and thank (Zahau) for saving Max’s life. I said, of course I’m grateful to her, because she gave him CPR.”

Read more:

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/sd-me-zahau-day6-story.html

Well-known pathologist testifies in trial that Zahau was strangled


Under cross examination by defense attorney, Dan Webb, Dr. Cyril Wecht, forensic pathologist on the witness stand is questioned about if it was common to exhume a body for a second autopsy for the purpose of a television show. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)

By Lyndsay Winkley•Contact Reporter

March 12, 2018, 3:55 PM

Several months after Rebecca Zahau’s body was found bound and hanging at a Coronado mansion, a well-known forensic pathologist went on the “Dr. Phil” show to announce that while he couldn’t say with certainty that the woman had been killed, his findings during a second autopsy raised serious questions about the death.

That same pathologist, Dr. Cyril Wecht, was much more definitive while testifying in Zahau’s wrongful death lawsuit on Monday.

“In my opinion, Rebecca Zahau’s death was a homicide,” he said in San Diego Superior Court. “She was manually strangled and it was set up to look like a suicidal hanging.”

Read more:

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/sd-me-zahau-pathologist-20180312-story.html

Zahau could not have tipped herself over balcony in suicide, expert testfies

By Pauline Repard•Contact Reporter

March 13, 2018, 4:25 PM |San Diego

Could Rebecca Zahau, at 5 feet 3 inches tall, bind her hands and feet, hop to a balcony railing more than half her height and tip herself over in a suicide by hanging?

An expert in how the human body moves testified on Tuesday that, according to his mathematical calculations, it would be nearly impossible.

“She’d have to hop wherever she goes,” said James Kent, a forensic kinesiologist.

“She would have to fall forward onto the railing. She wouldn’t go over because her center of gravity is below the railing,” he said.

“With her hands behind her, she’s in no position to propel herself. No way to do anything but sit there.”

Kent said that if Zahau managed to fall freely, rather than being lowered by another person, the sudden tension of the noose around her neck could have decapitated her.

Read more:

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/sd-me-zahau-suicide-20180313-story.html

So now we wait.

Jury finds Adam Shacknai responsible for Rebecca Zahau’s death!!

http://fox5sandiego.com/2018/04/04/jury-reaches-verdict-in-rebecca-zahau-wrong-death-case/

Brother of billionaire whose girlfriend was found hanging at a California mansion is found responsible for her death and ordered to pay $5million

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5579073/Man-sued-California-mansion-death-responsible.html#ixzz5Bjmq1ngn

• California civil jury determined Adam Shacknai must compensate Rebecca Zahau's family for loss of her love and companionship
  
  
  
  • Zahau was dating Adam's brother, pharmaceutical executive Jonah Shacknai, when she was found hanging naked from a balcony in 2011
    
  
  
  
  
  • Coroner ruled her death a suicide, but Zahau's suspected foul play and sued Shacknai, accusing him of sexually assaulting and then killing her
    
  
  
  
  
  • Two days before Zahau's death, her boyfriend's six-year-old son suffered a fatal fall at the house, where the woman was the only adult present
    
  
  
  
  
  • Zahau family are now asking the sheriff's department to reopen criminal case
    
  
  
  

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5630163/California-sheriff-reopens-suicide-case-woman-hanging-naked-San-Diego-mansion.html

California sheriff reopens 'suicide' case of woman found hanging naked at San Diego mansion after civil court found boyfriend's brother responsible for her death
California civil jury determined Adam Shacknai must compensate Rebecca Zahau's family for loss of her love and companionship
Zahau was dating Adam's brother, pharmaceutical executive Jonah Shacknai, when she was found hanging naked from a balcony in 2011
Coroner ruled her death a suicide, but Zahau's family suspected foul play
They sued Shacknai, accusing him of sexually assaulting and then killing her
Two days before Zahau's death, her boyfriend's six-year-old son suffered a fatal fall at the house, where the woman was the only adult present
On Monday her family was successful in having the Sheriff review the case
While their wasn't any new evidence presented during the civil case, they said that there was new analysis that can be done on existing evidence


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5630163/California-sheriff-reopens-suicide-case-woman-hanging-naked-San-Diego-mansion.html#ixzz5D2ueNL75
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Rebecca Zahau case will be discussed on Dr. Phil's show Tuesday, May 8th.