CA - Rebecca Zahau Wrongful Death Revisited 2019

[devilsangeldoc]

So I am refreshing myself with this case. There is alot to read through so could someone tell me why the police ruled this a suicide?

The police don't make that ruling, the ME/coroner would make that determination. And IMO it seems there were a lot of "missteps" in this case from the moment initial responding officers prematurely assumed and called it a suicide. That should never happen. It should have been standard operating procedure for detectives and ME to consider this suspicious death a homicide *until ruled otherwise*. I believe there was a detective that did just that and I'd like to know how/why it was amended to suicide.

 

[devilsangeldoc]

Bc everything pointed to suicide.
Read up on her background.

The incident with Max Schacknai was the tipping point.

<modsnip - not an approved source>

It did? I don't think so. I was trained to always consider suspicious deaths, and esp. scenes presenting as suicides, *as homicides* until ruled out. There's a whole lot in this case that would keep it in this hom status or at best undetermined. This case needs to be revisited before a clearance for suicide. And the only background that matters in mod and cod is her medical hx and investigative findings from detectives specific to this crime scene, which all gets reported back to the ME.

 

[Betty P]

The police don't make that ruling, the ME/coroner would make that determination. And IMO it seems there were a lot of "missteps" in this case from the moment initial responding officers prematurely assumed and called it a suicide. That should never happen. It should have been standard operating procedure for detectives and ME to consider this suspicious death a homicide *until ruled otherwise*. I believe there was a detective that did just that and I'd like to know how/why it was amended to suicide.

It was kind of rushed, JMO. It seemed that, once they had enough information to deem it a suicide, that's what they did. There was quite a bit of evidence they didn't test, look for or address. JMO, they saw what they wanted to see, then closed the investigation. Once the COD was determined by them and the case closed, everything was cleaned up, digital searches, etc. stopped. JMO, they should have retrieved digital evidence for everyone that night.

ETA: The ME was a fairly new guy. Basically, there were a lot of questions about evidence, lack of testing, possible erroneous conclusions, etc., but the San Diego Sheriff's Office and ME basically have "stonewalled" the public for years. They put their (JMO flawed) case out to the public, then stuck with that story, refusing to further investigate.

Death of Rebecca Zahau - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[ilovewings]

It did? I don't think so. I was trained to always consider suspicious deaths, and esp. scenes presenting as suicides, *as homicides* until ruled out. There's a whole lot in this case that would keep it in this hom status or at best undetermined. This case needs to be revisited before a clearance for suicide. And the only background that matters in mod and cod is her medical hx and investigative findings from detectives specific to this crime scene, which all gets reported back to the ME.

It was kind of rushed, JMO. It seemed that, once they had enough information to deem it a suicide, that's what they did. There was quite a bit of evidence they didn't test, look for or address. JMO, they saw what they wanted to see, then closed the investigation. Once the COD was determined by them and the case closed, everything was cleaned up, digital searches, etc. stopped. JMO, they should have retrieved digital evidence for everyone that night.

ETA: The ME was a fairly new guy. Basically, there were a lot of questions about evidence, lack of testing, possible erroneous conclusions, etc., but the San Diego Sheriff's Office and ME basically have "stonewalled" the public for years. They put their (JMO flawed) case out to the public, then stuck with that story, refusing to further investigate.

Death of Rebecca Zahau - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

This case as well as Ellen Greenberg are very similar. It was a perfect storm of poor police work and a poor ME or Coroner--in both cases. So many areas of poor investigation and jumping to conclusions that really do not comport with the evidence. All of us here have watched so many true crime stories and I have noticed (sadly) that it seems when a suspicious death occurs, detectives more often than I believe is warranted, are ready to call the death a suicide. Sometimes that ruling is made so soon, the crime scene is poorly investigated. I guess I am jaded but I sometimes think it is so much easier to call a case a suicide- a lot less work----not all detectives are Joe Kenda or other competent detectives. Plus., with respect to Zahau I think the family put pressure on law enforcement to put an end to the investigation.

 

[minazoe]

what nags is...Jonah himself pegged his ex wife for being the one who had the potential to be a killer of Rebecca. The totally irrational rage that comes of losing a child when the new potential Mrs.Shaknai is watching your child is unfathomable . I cannot imagine the freaking hatred she must have felt. I think for her to pull her brother in law
into this emotional mess is easy to imagine. All these people were floating around that night..information was missing, sightings were gaslighted away. She still thinks Max was murdered...people still think it could have been some "foreign faction" type of situation of corporate retribution. Rebecca was murdered and people are still lying about it. That's my take these days. mOO

 

[Seattle1]

From June 2019 -- please find link to a 4 part series (Death At the Mansion: Rebecca Zahau) featuring experts, witnesses, and family members-- a good refresher and/or recap of the case.

Coombs, Jensen and Holes will re-examine the number of theories about Rebecca's death, as well as meet with new experts, family members and witnesses. In the trailer, Coombs says they will take whatever findings they have to the local sheriff.

Death At The Mansion: Rebecca Zahau | Oxygen Official Site

Rebecca Zahau, a vibrant young woman, was found dead, hanging naked, bound and gagged, in the courtyard of her billionaire boyfriend's Coronado mansion on July 13, 2011, just two days after his six-year-old son suffered a fatal accident while under Rebecca's care. Rebecca's cause of death was...

www.oxygen.com

 

[Seattle1]

Sept 5, 2011

New details have emerged about the mysterious death of 32-year-old Rebecca Zahau, who was found hanged, bound and naked at a California millionaire's historic mansion.

On Friday investigators announced the case was closed and ruled her death a suicide, but Zahau's last cryptic message -- and information from the autopsy that had not been divulged during Friday's press conference -- have raised new doubts about the sheriff's conclusion.

The message painted in black on the door of the bedroom near where Zahau was found hanging said, "She saved him can you save her?"

In addition, the autopsy report revealed there were hemorrhages under Zahau's scalp, tape residue and blood on her legs, and the T-shirt that was wrapped around Zahau's neck had been partially stuffed in her mouth.

Rebecca Zahau Autopsy Reveals Startling Details

New details have emerged about the mysterious death of 32-year-old Rebecca Zahau, who was found hanged, bound and naked at a California millionaire's historic mansion. A message painted in black on the door of the bedroom near where Zahau was found hanging said, "She saved him can you save her?"...

abcnews.go.com

 

[IDK]

Has anyone been following the podcast? I see there are several new episodes— I don’t have Spotify though.

 

[Seattle1]

Has anyone been following the podcast? I see there are several new episodes— I don’t have Spotify though.

Thanks for update. Also, not sure if the podcast 'Operation Dragonfly: RZ Death Investigation' available on other platforms but a Spotify account/login is not required to listen.

 

[Seattle1]

July 13, 2024 marked 13 years since the tragic end of Rebecca's life. As always, my thoughts turn to Rebecca's loving family who continue experiencing the injustice of an investigation cut short when evidence pointed to a connected party.

Reminds me of the story told by Tricia of how her participation in a CBS special was edited out of the broadcast...

Streamed live on Dec 19, 2023

 

[arielilane]

Has anyone been following the podcast? I see there are several new episodes— I don’t have Spotify though.

I've been following along and see that Ginger has a few more new episodes to watch.

Login not needed. Hope the link below works:

Operation Dragonfly: Rebecca Zahau death investigation

Podcast · Ginger · The death of Rebecca Zahau grabbed worldwide headlines in 2011. Her bound and gagged nude body splashed across the internet. Black paint was pinched onto her nipples. After a two month investigation, the San Diego Sheriff's department concluded the cause of death was suicide...

open.spotify.com

 

[IDK]

I've been following along and see that Ginger has a few more new episodes to watch.

Login not needed. Hope the link below works:

Operation Dragonfly: Rebecca Zahau death investigation

Podcast · Ginger · The death of Rebecca Zahau grabbed worldwide headlines in 2011. Her bound and gagged nude body splashed across the internet. Black paint was pinched onto her nipples. After a two month investigation, the San Diego Sheriff's department concluded the cause of death was suicide...

open.spotify.com

Yes it is working for me. Thank you!

 

[Kennedy Jo]

Now while we were still in SD in July of 2011 we were told by investigators that they would look for ambien in Rebecca's system. This was because she was offered an ambien but declined to take one. In the end they never tested Rebecca's blood for ambien. They did a drug panel on her blood but ambien was not included in that panel. So she was never tested for being drugged. I know many of you here believed she was tested for drugs and came back negative. However never tested for ambien.

This is very odd. I'm a retired RN and former Coroner's Representative. The fact of not testing is negligent at best.

 

[Betty P]

This is very odd. I'm a retired RN and former Coroner's Representative. The fact of not testing is negligent at best.

There are so many odd things about the investigation. So much evidence, phones, and people that weren't tested.