CA - Rebecca Zahau Nalepa - suicide or murder? #11

[jjenny]

I would estimate the depth of the exterior balcony with the iron railing to be 25.26" deep.
I don't know how wide it is. I don't know how tall the railing is. We do know that the balcony is 11' from the ground.
I don't know if that helps anyone figure anything out.

How do we know the balcony is 11' from the ground? Because the calculations we are provided with don't make sense in that case. Autopsy reports states the RN hanging was 9' 2" drop. That was measured from the railing to the ligature on her neck. Her height is 5'3". Her feet were estimated to be 2 feet from the ground. Adding 9'2" + 5'3" + 2'=16' 5". We can subtract the railing which is ~ 3' and the height of head and neck (not going to be more than 1'). So the balcony has to be ~12' 5" from the ground.

 

[MyBelle]

If it was so strong why didn't she just tie a rope to the railing? Why would she need to anchor it to the bed?

If only any of us had those answers.

 

[SunnieRN]

After reading Max's AR and/or ME report, I am perplexed by something. The AR describes Max as landing face first onto the ground. The AR/ME mentions that Rebecca began Rescue Breathing on Max, however, he would need to be on his back to do so...
If he landed face first (poor thing, so sad), she would have had to turn him over onto his back to perform Rescue Breathing/CPR. Yet if this transpired, how did the scooter end up on his shin (according to the report) when the EMT's arrived? Perhaps I did not comprehend the report...has this bothered anyone else?

Yes it has been a topic of discussion, without resolution unfortunately.

:welcome: to websleuths and thank you for a wonderful 1st post!!

 

[justice be served]

I don't know for sure, but I would think they should. But really who knows. It disturbs me a lot they were not even in the loop until a few days before the PC. Not a good thing IMO.

If the Z family does not have access to the investigation details, then how would the family be able to back up the claims made by their attorney? Seems to me they would be at a major disadvantage then and they are really in a bad place and I feel for them. Even if the attorney is working pro Bono, one person cannot accomplish what 15 assigned detectives can do nor what JS's cadre of professionals can do. P

 

[katydid23]

If the Z family does not have access to the investigation details, then how would the family be able to back up the claims made by their attorney? Seems to me they would be at a major disadvantage then and they are really in a bad place and I feel for them. Even if the attorney is working pro Bono, one person cannot accomplish what 15 assigned detectives can do nor what JS's cadre of professionals can do. P

The attorney said that LE never compared RN's feet to the prints on the balcony. How could she know if they did or did not do that?

She said LE never took JS's prints for comparison on the scene. Again, how would she know if they had access to his prints or not?

 

[deanna82437]

If the Z family does not have access to the investigation details, then how would the family be able to back up the claims made by their attorney? Seems to me they would be at a major disadvantage then and they are really in a bad place and I feel for them. Even if the attorney is working pro Bono, one person cannot accomplish what 15 assigned detectives can do nor what JS's cadre of professionals can do. P

I do not see how they can legally keep any and all available investigative reports from them or their attorney. I hope they don't try to.

 

[MyBelle]

If so, why not make her manner of death as undetermined? I think that is where they screwed up. Now they have to really back pedal if they want to re-open the case. But no, they took the easy way out. They made it seem like an open and shut case. I really think that they thought everyone would accept their explanations (or lack thereof) as JS did. I think his wealth and status may have influenced the investigation. There are way to many unanswered questions. Yes, I agree with your "prosecutor/LE" conversation but I would think they would start looking (from the get-go) at RN's death as a homicide and then work back from there....it looks like they went with suicide and built their case from there........

I doubt at this point they'll go back and change it to undetermined because that really doesn't accomplish anything but I'm betting they will reopen the case if there's new evidence that points to homicide.

I don't believe JS wealth has influenced the investigation in any way. That implies he's a criminal and so are all the LE. It's an implication his attorney says is not true.

JMO

 

[elfie]

How do we know the balcony is 11' from the ground? Because the calculations we are provided with don't make sense in that case. Autopsy reports states the RN hanging was 9' 2" drop. That was measured from the railing to the ligature on her neck. Her height is 5'3". Her feet were estimated to be 2 feet from the ground. Adding 9'2" + 5'3" + 2'=16' 5". We can subtract the railing which is ~ 3'. So the balcony has to be ~13' 5" from the ground.

Then measure from the ligature to her feet for height.

It looks to be between 11' & 13' from photos.

 

[jjenny]

Then measure from the ligature to her feet for height.

It looks to be between 11' & 13' from photos.

I realize the length of her her head and neck has to be subtracted as well, but that's not going to be more than 1 foot. The balcony being 11 ft from the ground doesn't fit the numbers we were given, so where is that number coming from? If the 11 feet number was accurate her feet would be much closer to the ground.

 

[deanna82437]

The attorney said that LE never compared RN's feet to the prints on the balcony. How could she know if they did or did not do that?

She said LE never took JS's prints for comparison on the scene. Again, how would she know if they had access to his prints or not?

What does that have to do with the statement you replied to?

 

[justice be served]

From what I understand, they have not gotten any information. That may change now that they have a lawyer however.

If the Z family has been completely in the dark which I am getting that feeling, then it explains partially the superlatives the family is using to attempt to garner some attention in their quest for Rebecca. I doubt their frame of mind is normal, they're not experienced with the press and they have probably cringed themselves how they came across. I know I wouldn't be the smoothest in conveying my feelings under the circumstances.

 

[MyBelle]

I definitely agree that JS is not a man that would rollover and take this. However, this was his gf of two years. You would think that a joint agreement would be reached. Why not suffice RZ's family and answer their questions?

Because their attorney would be asking the questions and his attorney has sent her a cease and desist letter about comments she's made that he considers defamatory. No way would JS attorney give her the time of day at this point.

JMO

 

[i.b.nora]

Well, I got the 11'0" from the ground to the 'floor' of the balcony from the elevation drawings that were submitted by Shacknai's architect to the Preservation group and to the city. It says, 11'0" ground to second floor (balcony appears to be level with second floor). Someone, I don't remember who, provided a link to the PDF.

Isn't the autopsy the one where the guy goes magically from the guesthouse with its two bedrooms that have noting to do with anything to the bedroom (in the main house) with the ropes and stuff? I rest my case.

 

[justice be served]

Because their attorney would be asking the questions and his attorney has sent her a cease and desist letter about comments she's made that he considers defamatory. No way would JS attorney give her the time of day at this point.

JMO

Well whomever is giving JS advice on public perception is doing a piss poor job. Perhaps I'll give him advice because he couldn't look worse. His high powered advisors should all be fired.

 

[SunnieRN]

Well, I got the 11'0" from the ground to the 'floor' of the balcony from the elevation drawings that were submitted by Shacknai's architect to the Preservation group and to the city. It says, 11'0" ground to second floor (balcony appears to be level with second floor). Someone, I don't remember who, provided a link to the PDF.

Isn't the autopsy the one where the guy goes magically from the guesthouse with its two bedrooms that have noting to do with anything to the bedroom (in the main house) with the ropes and stuff? I rest my case.

You've got a good point there!! :floorlaugh:

 

[MyBelle]

After reading Max's AR and/or ME report, I am perplexed by something. The AR describes Max as landing face first onto the ground. The AR/ME mentions that Rebecca began Rescue Breathing on Max, however, he would need to be on his back to do so...
If he landed face first (poor thing, so sad), she would have had to turn him over onto his back to perform Rescue Breathing/CPR. Yet if this transpired, how did the scooter end up on his shin (according to the report) when the EMT's arrived? Perhaps I did not comprehend the report...has this bothered anyone else?

Good question. It's bothered several of us. I'm beginning to wonder if the ME put all that info out there so that it would raise questions about whether Max's fall really was an accident.

JMO

 

[SunnieRN]

Well whomever is giving JS advice on public perception is doing a piss poor job. Perhaps I'll give him advice because he couldn't look worse. His high powered advisors should all be fired.

I guess it's true. Money can't buy everything. ;-)

 

[Peaceful]

As someone else said, I don't think there was an actual buy off but more of the intimidation of the wealth and knowing that he could afford the very best lawyers. I really don't believe that there is/was a cover up so much as turning the other way and just taking the easy way out, versus looking at it from all angles.

That is JMHO. I do agree that bonafide cover ups are very rare in LE due to the number of folks who would have to keep quiet. But I think if a case could really go either way - suicide or murder - depending on the evidence and if investigating the case further is left up to someone in charge and they say, "I'm going with suicide. Case closed.", then - that's it. Case closed.

I have no experience personally with LE but that's just my very humble layman's view.

What a great explanation and this scenario makes the most sense to me! Wonderfully written. :rocker:

 

[justice be served]

Good question. It's bothered several of us. I'm beginning to wonder if the ME put all that info out there so that it would raise questions about whether Max's fall really was an accident.

JMO

So are you suggesting that their report is not on the up and up?

 

[Peaceful]

I have read the statement from his attorney, but i still have not read or seen anything in print or in interviews that anyone in RZ's family suggested that the JS family had anything to do with it. What I have seen is the family and attorney state over and over that they just want the case reopened. I would love to see any links that you might have seen where they have suggested otherwise. Just because his attorney sent that email out, doesn't make it fact. This is what attorney's do, especially attorney's who have clients who own multi-billion dollar companies, who want to protect those interests.

Excellent point! I have been thinking about this as well and revisiting the articles featuring her and all I can find from attorney Bremner are lists of questions the family has that we would all like answered. Take a chill pill JS!