Attorney Says Audio Evidence is Key in Coronado Mansion Death Mystery

On July 13, 2011, Rebecca Zahau, 32, was found nude, hanging from a balcony at the Spreckels Mansion in Coronado in what investigators believe was a suicide, while her family insists it was a murder

A wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of a woman found nude, bound and hanging at the Spreckels Mansion in Coronado in 2011 continues to move forward, this time with key audio evidence, according to the family's attorney.

On July 13, 2011, Rebecca Zahau, 32, was found nude, hanging from a balcony at the famous home. Her death came two days after boyfriend Jonah Shacknai’s 6-year-old son, Max Shacknai, fatally fell at the home while under Zahau’s watch.

Ultimately, after what they say was a thorough investigation, homicide detectives from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department concluded that Zahau had committed suicide.

For four years, Zahau’s family has fought to have the case looked at again because they believe Zahau's death was a murder, not a suicide.

In October 2014, a federal judge allowed the Zahau family to move forward with a $10 million wrongful death lawsuit against Dina Shacknai, her twin sister, Nina Romano, and Zahau's boyfriend's brother, Adam Shacknai, whom they believe were involved in Zahau's death.

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.

"It was more shocking evidence. How could you hear this, know this existed and still say this is a suicide that doesn't warrant further investigation?” Greer said.

NBC 7 reached out to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department about the recording. Department spokesperson Jan Caldwell sent us the following statement:

“This information had come to us during the investigation and we fully investigated it at the time. It did not have merit, however, as in any investigation, if anyone has new information, we will always accept and conduct follow up. We stand by the Medical Examiner's findings that this was a suicide.”

San Diego attorney Marc Carlos isn't associated with the Zahau lawsuit, but has represented families in similar cases.

“I think what you need to understand is that this is not a criminal case,” said Carlos. “It's a civil standard. While a criminal case is a reasonable doubt standard, civil is going to be a preponderance of evidence.”

Right now, this case is in the discovery process, which means evidence is being presented and scrutinized by both sides.

"It takes as long as it takes. The other side, both sides, will combat each other about what can be discovered and what is discoverable and so there's a fight over that, which takes time and so it's a slow process,” said Carlos.

NBC 7 also received a statement from Dina Shacknai, who is listed in the wrongful death suit.

She says:

“Nina and I have recently started to receive the documents related to Rebecca's death from the COPD and SDSD. However, although there were at least seven DOJ agents involved at the scene, we still have no files from the Department of Justice, nor the Border Patrol agents (under the auspice of the Federal Department of Homeland Security), so we have yet to review the complete file. However, regardless of our lack of complete information thus far, I could not comment on Mr. Greer's statement as I was with my son Maxie at Rady’s Hospital in Pediatric Intensive Care, praying for his recovery, and watching him fight for his life, trying to breathe on his own while on a ventilator.”

She adds:

“It would be impossible for me to hear any disturbances at Jonah's home as I was with our son alone at a hospital miles away. As well, my sister, Nina was with her son, and our close friend, none of whom heard a disturbance as they were five blocks from Jonah's house on Ocean Blvd. My sister and I would again publicly like to extend, for the fourth time since 2012, our offer to share all of the information we have with the Zahau’s and ask that they reciprocate. Perhaps an exchange of accurate data could help both families find answers, healing, and resolution.”

Greer said he is hoping anyone who may have heard those alleged screams or noises on that night in July 2011 comes forward with that information.
 

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