Fatal Friends, Deadly Neighbors: Ann Rule's Crime Files

[bourne]

In her letter dated 9/10/2012 to Coronado's Chief of Police Louis Scanlon (page 3, pp2) Dina lists a number of "glaring mistakes" made by CPD's investigation into Max's death, the second of which (#2) is "misplacing evidence from the evidence locker, i.e. the link that connected the chandelier to the chain that was photographed and retrieved at the scene".

http://www.maxshacknai.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Dina_Shacknai_Response_To_COPD.pdf

Is this maybe the "missing chain" you (and time) are thinking of?

I had already mentioned this in a prior post, but I don't think this missing link is what was used to cause Becky's thinner neck ligature.

 

[Inparadise]

I had already mentioned this in a prior post, but I don't think this missing link is what was used to cause Becky's thinner neck ligature.

The electrical cord that was "snaked" through the chain was sheered off/pulled out of the ceiling fixture (if you look at the photos of the chain still hanging, there is no wire, it is all with the actual chandelier).

 

[Quester]

In her letter dated 9/10/2012 to Coronado's Chief of Police Louis Scanlon (page 3, pp2) Dina lists a number of "glaring mistakes" made by CPD's investigation into Max's death, the second of which (#2) is "misplacing evidence from the evidence locker, i.e. the link that connected the chandelier to the chain that was photographed and retrieved at the scene".

http://www.maxshacknai.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Dina_Shacknai_Response_To_COPD.pdf

Is this maybe the "missing chain" you (and time) are thinking of?

I was actually thinking of the electrical wire that fed electricity to the chandelier as a possible ligature. Often times, there is also a strong wire anchored to a ceiling joist or something secure that is fed down through the chain and attached to the chandelier as an insurance that the chandelier won't drop due to a weak chain link or whatever.

At the MS link is the Dr. B document in which detailed info is provided as far as what was recovered associated with the chandelier. It detailed what sounded like all the chain (except for that missing 1/2 link), what could be some or all of the electrical wire and what could be all or some of a wire. It wasn't quite clear to me if all was recovered and accounted for or not.

 

[time]

I was actually thinking of the electrical wire that fed electricity to the chandelier as a possible ligature. Often times, there is also a strong wire anchored to a ceiling joist or something secure that is fed down through the chain and attached to the chandelier as an insurance that the chandelier won't drop due to a weak chain link or whatever.

At the MS link is the Dr. B document in which detailed info is provided as far as what was recovered associated with the chandelier. It detailed what sounded like all the chain (except for that missing 1/2 link), what could be some or all of the electrical wire and what could be all or some of a wire. It wasn't quite clear to me if all was recovered and accounted for or not.

This seems familiar to me too, but I'm wondering if it's because many really early report said she was bound with electrical cord/wire.

 

[Inparadise]

This seems familiar to me too, but I'm wondering if it's because many really early report said she was bound with electrical cord/wire.

From the initial reports, I thought that perhaps she was tied up with orange extension cord(s).

 

[Quester]

This seems familiar to me too, but I'm wondering if it's because many really early report said she was bound with electrical cord/wire.

:seeya:

Yes - the fact that all the early reports stated that RZ was bound with electrical cord made it very difficult to search for any info reported just on the electrical cord/wire associated with the chandelier. Coincidence or intentional???

The most detailed info I found was in that Dr. Bove (sp?) report and even that didn't seem to provide the full or clear picture on the issue of chandelier cord/wire, but I also didn't spend alot of time on it.

 

[inthedark14]

:seeya:

Yes - the fact that all the early reports stated that RZ was bound with electrical cord made it very difficult to search for any info reported just on the electrical cord/wire associated with the chandelier. Coincidence or intentional???

The most detailed info I found was in that Dr. Bove (sp?) report and even that didn't seem to provide the full or clear picture on the issue of chandelier cord/wire, but I also didn't spend alot of time on it.

The next logical question is who had access to the property between the time poor MS was injured and RZ's death? We know that JS was almost never there, how much of his time was accounted for? We know at some point a SW was requested and they went back to the house for the items listed. I believe this was after RZ was found, naked, bound and gagged outside the residence. From piecing things together, RZ and XZ cleaned the foyer and the remainder of the chandelier were in the trash. Does anyone know where that trash might have been the night of RZ's death?

TIA
Always MOO

 

[bourne]

The next logical question is who had access to the property between the time poor MS was injured and RZ's death? We know that JS was almost never there, how much of his time was accounted for? We know at some point a SW was requested and they went back to the house for the items listed. I believe this was after RZ was found, naked, bound and gagged outside the residence. From piecing things together, RZ and XZ cleaned the foyer and the remainder of the chandelier were in the trash. Does anyone know where that trash might have been the night of RZ's death?

TIA
Always MOO

RZ was definitely out of Spreckels mansion much of Mon and Tues. Jonah immediately went to hospital following the ambulance for Max. Then a little while after Max's injury, both RZ and XZ were escorted by police to the hospital. That would leave the Spreckels mansion empty from about 11am Monday to late Monday...

Who could have been at the Spreckels Monday? Police finally found Dina on Monday at 2pm in her home around the corner to Spreckels. Presumably she arrived at the hospital half an hour or more later, around 3pm Mon.

Nina doesn't arrive in Coronado until late Mon around 8pm, and Becky picked her and her son up at the airport. So Nina could not have been at the Spreckels Mon afternoon, after Max's accident. Also, Nina admitted to being at Spreckels mansion around 10pm Tues night.

Adam did not arrive in Coronado until about 5pm Tues so he couldn't have entered Spreckels on Mon or much of Tues. He was with Becky and/or Jonah and Luber until 8pm Tues.

That leaves Dina who was unreachable for the entire Mon morning until 2pm. Also Dina left the hospital on Tues morning and disappeared from radar -- not caught on camera surveillance at hospital or RMH -- for 14+ hours on Tues. Seems to me this Dina had plenty of time to sneak in and out of Spreckels mansion, which had been a vacation home to her and Jonah for many, many years. I would think even after her divorce to Jonah was finalized in 2010 or 2011, that Dina still held a key to the Spreckels mansion and used Max as a pretext for keeping the key to the Spreckels mansion. Also, according to Ann Rule, the backdoor to the Spreckels mansion was always left unlocked...and Dina would have known that fact.

 

[Carioca]

The next logical question is who had access to the property between the time poor MS was injured and RZ's death? We know that JS was almost never there, how much of his time was accounted for? We know at some point a SW was requested and they went back to the house for the items listed. I believe this was after RZ was found, naked, bound and gagged outside the residence. From piecing things together, RZ and XZ cleaned the foyer and the remainder of the chandelier were in the trash. Does anyone know where that trash might have been the night of RZ's death?

TIA
Always MOO

Garbage collection on Ocean Blvd is Fridays. The garbage was most likely kept in a big bin in the garage (that's what we do so am only presuming...) before being pulled out to sidewalk for collection.

 

[time]

:seeya:

Yes - the fact that all the early reports stated that RZ was bound with electrical cord made it very difficult to search for any info reported just on the electrical cord/wire associated with the chandelier. Coincidence or intentional???

The most detailed info I found was in that Dr. Bove (sp?) report and even that didn't seem to provide the full or clear picture on the issue of chandelier cord/wire, but I also didn't spend alot of time on it.

BBM - yes!

I am wondering if the Chandeliers electrical cord was all found now. I suspect the garbage bin was somewhere near the back of the driveway/garage? Pretty close proximity to the gate that wasn't touched.:waitasec:

Of course, I could see a cord from a pair of sweat pants or sweat shirt being used as a ligature too.

 

[bourne]

BBM - yes!

I am wondering if the Chandeliers electrical cord was all found now. I suspect the garbage bin was somewhere near the back of the driveway/garage? Pretty close proximity to the gate that wasn't touched.:waitasec:

Of course, I could see a cord from a pair of sweat pants or sweat shirt being used as a ligature too.

You know what puzzles me? Why did LE not identify and look for the object that made the thinner ligature mark around Becky's neck?

If the thinner ligature was not made by the rope noose, then what exactly made that mark? :what: And if the strangulation object is not found in the Spreckels mansion, that would prove that Becky was murdered since its absence would mean that the murderer(s) took the object away with them when they departed the mansion.

 

[time]

You know what puzzles me? Why did LE not identify and look for the object that made the thinner ligature mark around Becky's neck?

If the thinner ligature was not made by the rope noose, then what exactly made that mark? :what: And if the strangulation object is not found in the Spreckels mansion, that would prove that Becky was murdered since its absence would mean that the murderer(s) took the object away with them when they departed the mansion.

Well, maybe that strangulation mark is the elephant in the room - or another one. I can't for the life of me see how it can just be brushed off as nothing.

 

[Carioca]

Well, maybe that strangulation mark is the elephant in the room - or another one. I can't for the life of me see how it can just be brushed off as nothing.

Since this thread is about Ann Rule's book, I have searched "Fatal Friends, Deadly Neighbors" for a reference to a "strangulation mark," but couldn't find one. Nonetheless, since the discussion has gone in this direction, I thought best to bring back Cynic's excellent illustration based on RZ's autopsy report:

Not included in Cynic's illustration notes but can be seen directly below the ligature furrow posterior arrow is a thin red line:

RZ Autopsy Report:
"Posteriorly, there is a parallel, thin, red line situated 1/8 inch below the dried ligature furrow for a distance of 2-1/2 inches and separated from it by an area of pallor."

Am wondering if this red line is what is being referred to as a strangulation mark? If not, please point me in the right direction. TYA! Now why that posterior ligature furrow doesn't curve upwards in direction of the knot, that's another question...

 

[bourne]

Since this thread is about Ann Rule's book, I have searched "Fatal Friends, Deadly Neighbors" for a reference to a "strangulation mark," but couldn't find one. Nonetheless, since the discussion has gone in this direction, I thought best to bring back Cynic's excellent illustration based on RZ's autopsy report:

Not included in Cynic's illustration notes but can be seen directly below the ligature furrow posterior arrow is a thin red line:


Am wondering if this red line is what is being referred to as a strangulation mark? If not, please point me in the right direction. TYA! Now why that posterior ligature furrow doesn't curve upwards in direction of the knot, that's another question...

Thank you for posting Cynic's drawing

Looks like there are a lot of petechiae, furrows, and thin lines around Becky's neck. IDK which one is the thinner ligature mark posters have been referring to.

From my understanding about strangulations, they can only occur if your larynx is crushed or your trachea is constricted. Since the trachea is midway in front of the throat, I would think the constriction/strangulation occurred in the front of the throat area. Perhaps posters are referring to the petechiae line above the noose ligature furrow?

KZ would be a better candidate to answer your question.

 

[inthedark14]

Thank you for posting Cynic's drawing

Looks like there are a lot of petechiae, furrows, and thin lines around Becky's neck. IDK which one is the thinner ligature mark posters have been referring to.

From my understanding about strangulations, they can only occur if your larynx is crushed or your trachea is constricted. Since the trachea is midway in front of the throat, I would think the constriction/strangulation occurred in the front of the throat area. Perhaps posters are referring to the petechiae line above the noose ligature furrow?

KZ would be a better candidate to answer your question.

Agreed...KZ can you help us all out here? Why in the world would there be TWO ligature marks? Is it possible that the rope made two? If you set aside all the other planes of injury we see just in this example showing only her head, why in the world are there two?

When you look at all of the injuries to poor RZ's body, it obvious something nefarious happened. Even if she had managed to do all of the things needed to complete a suicide of this magnitude, how in the world did she injure herself so much in the process? How did she get a second smaller, thinner ligature mark across her neck? How did she sustain the head injuries, the ones that occurred while she was still alive? How did she have tape residue on both of her legs? How did her back get all scratched up?

When she was running around the mansion naked, and somehow getting her feet muddy, looking for all of the items needed to create this elaborate and macabre "suicide" was she strangling herself with some other unknown item? The second ligature mark is a big issue. It shouldn't be there if she had done the things that she needed to do to commit suicide.

Always, MOO

 

[K_Z]

I agree that the multiple ligature marks are confusing.

I am not any kind of forensic expert. However, I have located some information discussing multiple ligature marks, and differentiation between strangulation ligature and hanging ligature furrows. The analysis and conclusions can be very difficult when there are multiple ligature marks, from many of the sources I read—as to whether a given mark occurred first or subsequent, and the source of the mark when the material is no longer present upon discovery of the victim. Analysis of vitality (being alive) at the time of hangings, as opposed to hanging post mortem, appears to be relatively straight forward form the sources I’ve read.

Suffice to say that I think that there can be differences of opinion between forensic experts when there are multiple ligature marks. Lucas described the marks in his AR, but did not opine on the order of their appearance. He did not describe all of the neck structures in detail (tearing of the carotids or internal/ external jugulars, for example), but did give enough detail that it appears that he (and Wecht) agree that she was alive when the long drop occurred (alive, meaning beating heart). Wecht left open the door that she may have been partially strangled to unconsciousness or semiconsciousness, or stunned to semiconsciousness with the 4 blows to the head preceding the hanging.

Here are a few resources. (Sorry for the length of the post!)

http://www.anilaggrawal.com/ij/vol_007_no_001/papers/paper005.html

Obliquity vs. Discontinuity of ligature mark in diagnosis of hanging - a comparative study

In the professional life of autopsy surgeon, case of hanging by a ligature is a common encounter. However, suspicion about the mechanism of constriction may arise on more than one occasion. The characteristic finding i.e., the ligature mark found around the neck in both hanging and strangulation creates an element of doubt in many cases. The difficulty increases manyfold when one has to differentiate ligature mark of homicidal hanging from strangulation, as associated bodily injuries will be found on both occasions though in partial hanging it may not be difficult due to absence of marks of violence and resistance.

The ligature mark is a vital piece of evidence, especially when the killer has taken away the actual ligature1. Taking the most important finding i.e., ligature mark into consideration, there are a few points like 1) level, 2) discontinuity and 3) obliquity of the ligature mark which differentiate hanging from ligature strangulation.

However, it is a fact that not all these differentiating features are present simultaneously in all cases of hangings or strangulations. In practice, the distinction between the two groups is important because strangulation is usually homicidal and hanging in vast majority is considered to be suicidal2. So there is always a necessity to differentiate hanging mark from strangulation mark before giving an opinion otherwise an error in judgment can convict an innocent or a murderer can go scot free in the society.

http://journals.lww.com/amjforensic...ysis_of_Neck_Injuries_in_Hanging.16.aspx#Home

Analysis of Neck Injuries in Hanging (American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology)

A furrow is the ligature mark on skin, usually localized above the larynx. Its direction is determined by the point of the knot. Depending on the length of suspension time, the furrow is initially a pale or yellow parchmentlike area with a rim that is congested or with slight punctiform hematomas. With time, the furrow dries and becomes brownish. 2 The narrower the ligature and the harder its material, and also the longer the suspension time, the more detectable is the mark on the skin. The furrow is mainly a postmortem phenomenon. To establish the intravital hanging, any inner neck structure injury indicating ligature mark intravitality is to be identified.

Frequency and distribution of inner neck injury caused by hanging might indicate the mechanism of those organs injured with regard to the hanging type or the point of the ligature knot. Inner structure neck injuries can be caused 2 ways: directly, at the location of the ligature’s highest compression, which occurs at the side opposite the point of the knot, or indirectly because of the neck structures’ being too stretched, which is the most detectable in the area surrounding the point of the ligature knot.
The aim of this study was to determine frequency of inner neck structure injuries in hanging with regard to the point of the ligature knot.

http://www.exploreforensics.co.uk/ligature-marks.html

Ligature Marks

Author: Jack Claridge - Updated: 7 October 2012
Ligature marks can also indicate if a victim has been hanged and then perhaps the body moved post mortem to another location. Marks that are the result of hanging have a raised imprint, which will normally point in an upward direction as gravity pulls the body downward during hanging.

Ligature marks are normally dark brown in colour and have a red band on either side of these horizontal marks signifying the width of the item used to carry out strangulation.
Ligature marks also appear during what are called manual choke holds; this is when the assailant strangles the victim with nothing more than his or her bare hands. These ligature marks can sometimes be in the exact shape of the fingers that have applied the force to the neck area and it may be possible to extract skin samples for DNA analysis at this time.

In suicides where hanging has been used as a means of taking one's own life there will be several ligature marks around the neck area as the process of hanging can be sometimes a tricky one and may need several attempts. In addition to these extra ligature marks there may also be imprints of knots tied in rope or cord to indicate that the individual was trying to make sure that they could not be cut down easily from their makeshift noose.

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/jfo/2009/00000054/00000001/art00032

Extensive Petechiae in Attempted Self-Strangulation
A 29-year-old Korean man reported to have been robbed, bound, and gagged by a stranger in his apartment. Clinical findings included extensive petechiae to his face and tramline patterned abrasions and ligature furrows to his neck and face as well as his wrists. Initially, no other leads in the investigation existed and a robbery was assumed to have taken place. The man eventually confessed to fabricating the story and to having self-induced the ligature marks by subluxating his jaw at the temporomandibular joint and hooking the rope closest to the back of his neck on the corner of table. The man demonstrated this unsuspected ability to law enforcement officers. As a motive for his unconventional behavior, he confessed to engaging in autoaggressive behavior as punishment for “losing face” after his ex-girlfriend terminated her pregnancy. This case demonstrates that petechiae due to neck compression also may occur in the living and are due to vascular compression and not lethal hypoxia.

**Warning- the following article contains autopsy pictures. Consider your own sensibilities.

http://www.anilaggrawal.com/ij/vol_011_no_002/papers/paper003.html

An Unusual Case of Hanging

Hanging is one of the most commonly used methods for suicide worldwide.1 Hanging can be suicidal which is most common but cases of accidental hanging and rarely of homicidal hanging have been reported. There have been rare but reported cases where people have tried to stage a suicide as homicide. There are also reported cases where the scene prima facie appeared as that of homicide but on a closer look turned out to be suicidal. In all such cases a detailed investigation of the scene, reconstruction of the position of the suspended body, examination of the ligature material, type of knot, and direction of the fibers in case of rope helps in establishing manner of hanging.2

To differentiate various types and manner of hanging a meticulous examination of the neck of the deceased with the internal structures is of immense value. Such findings assume tremendous importance whenever in doubt regarding the manner of hanging. In the case presented here, there were multiple turns of ligature around the neck. The findings aroused the suspicion of homicide but the examination of scene of crime and other circumstantial evidences were of crucial importance while deciding the manner of death in this case.

*Warning: the following link contains autopsy photos.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1353113103001068

Periligature injuries in hanging

Hanging is a common mode of suicide while ligature strangulation is a common way of homicide. Ligature marks (patterned abrasion caused by ligature material) can be of great significance to the forensic pathologist in determining the cause and manner of death. Ligature material usually produces a prominent mark over the bight area, which is opposite to the knot and an inverted ‘V’ pattern at the site of the knot. Apart from ligature mark, sometimes findings such as rope burns & nail marks may be seen around the ligature mark and can be termed as ‘periligature injuries’.

http://www.rguhs.ac.in/cdc/onlinecdc/uploads/01_M001_11112.doc

Virtually all hangings are suicidal.3

The most common point of suspension is side of the neck, followed by the back and the front. At time of suspension, the noose typically slips above the larynx, catching under chin. Present on the neck will be a furrow. This furrow generally does not completely encircle the neck, but rather slants upwards toward the knot, fading out at the point of suspension the knot. If the knot is under the chin, its site might be indicated by abrasion or indentation beneath the chin. The clarity and configuration of the furrow depend upon the material used. A rope will give a deep, well demarcated, distinct furrow, often with a mirror–image impression of the twist of the rope on the skin. This furrow initially has a pale yellow parchment appearance with a congested rim. With time, the furrow dries out and becomes dark brown. If the ligature is soft material, the groove might not be properly defined, pale and devoid of bruises and abrasions. In some cases, the margin of the groove is pale, with upper margin red, caused by post mortem congestion of vessels. A towel can give poorly defined superficial areas of abrasion.3

The appearance of ligature mark on the neck is subject to considerable variation,3 depending on the nature of the ligature, the amount of resistance offered by the victim and the amount of force used by assailant.

The geometry of the mark is important in interpreting the fatal events.4 In strangulation, unlike hanging; the mark tends to encircle the neck horizontally and at a lower level. Typically it crosses immediately above or below the prominence of the larynx and passes back to the nape of the neck. In homicide, where a single turn is used, there is often a cross-over point where the two ends of the ligature mark overlap. This may be at front, side or back of the neck, depending on the relative positions of assailant and victim.

The mark on the neck in hanging can almost always be distinguished from ligature strangulation.

 

[bourne]

KZ, so basically what I got out of your informative post is that hangings are generally indicative of suicides, whereas strangulations tend to be homicides. But in this case, Becky was murdered.

What does inverted V mean?

So which ligature line/furrow on Becky's neck is the thinner one posters have been referring to?

 

[minazoe]

this article was interesting , especially the end where anne talks about possibly a second book re detailing the case, and her reason why.

http://coronado.patch.com/articles/...ebecca-zahau-coronado-spreckels-fatal-friends

 

[Mr Spock]

this article was interesting , especially the end where anne talks about possibly a second book re detailing the case, and her reason why.

http://coronado.patch.com/articles/...ebecca-zahau-coronado-spreckels-fatal-friends

I wonder what attorney Dina would have working with someone on a "2nd book" since Angelia Hallier seems to have abruptly left Maxie's House. Angela is likely no longer Dina's attorney for advancing her theories on Max's death as well. Dina seems to a lot of people leave her side abruptly.

 

[time]

I wonder what attorney Dina would have working with someone on a "2nd book" since Angelia Hallier seems to have abruptly left Maxie's House. Angela is likely no longer Dina's attorney for advancing her theories on Max's death as well. Dina seems to a lot of people leave her side abruptly.

I thought Hallier was an odd choice to begin with since she is a divorce attorney - she even said the going was tough because of that (my paraphrasing) on Dr. Phil (or some show).

I wonder if she is no longer on the nonprofit because it might be a conflict of interest? To me, it looks a little funny to have your divorce lawyer become your lawyer on a death case who is also a board memeber on a nonprofit having to do with 'blended/mixed families' and their supposed well being? At the very least, it kind of cries out that Dina doesn't branch out much on the expertise and advice she seeks.