Rebecca Nalepa - suicide or murder? #1

[Melanie]

Ok,I am going to play devil's advocate. Go ahead and get ready to whoop me you guys. Rebecca, from everything I can surmise is a survivor. I might go so far as to say a tough little cookie. Mentally i will go so far to say ....she had to be a bit Machiavelli to achieve what she desired. A person can tic off a lot of people by being ambitious. Even if she snapped from the stress.... I just cannot see a person with her makeup choosing to destroy herself in such a humiliating way. But, and I say this with well earned humility..I have been wrong.:slap:

I think all posts, theories, suggestions are welcome. We're getting false or misleading information, at best, from the media. The press conference was spotty as well, with no mention of the daughter being in the house at the time Maxie fell down the stairs. I appreciate all the posts, as information coming out seems to have come to a halt (but I haven't checked the Coronado Press this morning).

I noticed yesterday that even the news/radio stations were pretty quiet. I wonder if this has something to do with the ramped up investigation.

I sure hope we have answers soon!

Mel

 

[time]

Not sure what you mean? Are you suggesting that perhaps the boyfriend came back to the house? The bridge is wide open say from 9PM - 4AM. Work traffic starts about 4:30 - 8:30. I would think LE would be able to find his car on camera though, as this is a popular jump bridge with lots of cameras, and if he (or even Dina for that matter) tried to scoot back home for a few hours, they would be pretty easy to spot - IMHO.

Best,

Mel

I don't really mean anything - just covering bases mostly, wondering if the 20 minutes would be more accurate for say 2-3 am. I had a crazy theory running through my head that she could have been bound and with the rope around her neck in a precarious position. Meaning that the murder was set up but earlier. I think that theory is going out on a limb a bit, but somewhat possible.

Now, I am wondering when the brother, Adam, arrived. Anyone know?

 

[colette]

Hospitals have cameras in every hall and entrance 24/7, if either parent had left it will be shown. Everything so far says both parents were in the hospital. There is no sneaking out of a hospital.

 

[Jade]

Welcome obmama!

Since you say you have time on your hands!

Do you have any links so I can read about SDSO & GS or is this gleaned from what you have heard/gathered?

More mystery from an article on the 17th:


http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jul/18/arizona-ceos-son-girlfriend-dies-within-a-week/

Zahau was at home with another woman, whom authorities won't identify, when Max fell down the stairs last Monday, Coronado Police Chief Louis Scanlon said.

If a minor it makes sense that privacy is due but variations of daughter, sister and unidentified woman?

Thank you for the information about the neighbor saying the chandelier fell on Max.

I had been wondering if the injury might have been of the electrical nature since a chandelier is allegedly involved.

Could explain how the injury was so grievous and another child could be hurt as well if she were to also get a shock perhaps coming to his aid.

All imo

 

[Melanie]

My vote is "blatantly deliberate". It was ***, as CPD originally stated. Sounds like she stepped in deep doo doo, and daddy's paying. Maybe that's why they left the "accident" investigation in the inexperienced hands of CPD. So they reach the same conclusion they did on Monday - "an unfortunate accident".

There was too much effort put into making everyone think RS was the only one home. I was almost convinced it was suicide, that JS sent her packing and she retaliated by staging her own murder. Now, I'm wondering if she was being silenced. Something happened Monday, that they want no one to know about. I never thought I'd say this about an LE investigation, but everyone can be bought for the right price. I've just never been this "up close" to the life of a filthy rich egomaniac. Scary.

I agree with you! As I mentioned in an earlier post, if these 2 incidents happened in a low rent district in San Diego, or even middle income - I believe the investigation would be handled much differently. Instead we have a mult-millionaire, living in a very exclusive community, with limited LE resources (not even a homicide division). It would be quite easy to walk into a influential property owners home and assume Maxie's death was an accident - and write if off as such. Had it been somewhere else, the parents would most likely be hauled in for child abuse at minimum - or neglect.

Then when Rebecca was found dead, they couldn't just brush it under the carpet.

Interesting dynamics --

Mel

 

[obmama]

Thanks for your posting!

Where did you see/hear the bolded statements? - Do you have a link?

TIA

Gosh, I've been gathering so many tidbits here and there, it would be time consuming to look for the links. I can tell you the approximate date & possible websites.

The chandelier story was Wed or Thurs, in one of the local news sites. Google "san diego news" and check Channel 10 News (click archives, you'll see a list of last weeks headlines) - I'm positive they identified it as conflicting.

The "ladder" and "jumping up & down" was a Fox5 live video around 9 p.m. Friday night. This media source is on top of it. They were camped out in front of the house, just as CPD, SDSO & DOJ pulled in and yellow taped off the grounds. They filmed what they were doing in the house through the windows. It was night, so you get a pretty good glimpse when they light the place up!

Check all the Patch stories. That's where you get all the local stuff. You might find the "chandelier" story there. Click on the Kennel Owner Last To See Victim Alive story too. He changed up later in the week, but he gave a true account of RN's emotional state.

 

[SleuthyMama]

My vote is "blatantly deliberate". It was ***, as CPD originally stated. Sounds like she stepped in deep doo doo, and daddy's paying. Maybe that's why they left the "accident" investigation in the inexperienced hands of CPD. So they reach the same conclusion they did on Monday - "an unfortunate accident".

There was too much effort put into making everyone think RS was the only one home. I was almost convinced it was suicide, that JS sent her packing and she retaliated by staging her own murder. Now, I'm wondering if she was being silenced. Something happened Monday, that they want no one to know about. I never thought I'd say this about an LE investigation, but everyone can be bought for the right price. I've just never been this "up close" to the life of a filthy rich egomaniac. Scary.

Just wanted to say Welcome! I like the way you think. And I believe you might really be onto something....I said it before and I'll say it again. This story is strange and getting stranger by the moment.

 

[STEADFAST]

What about in the wee hours of the morning?

The Coronado Bay Bridge is virtually empty in the wee hours of the morning. Except for rush hours or if there's an accident, traffic on the bridge is not heavy.

 

[STEADFAST]

Not sure what you mean? Are you suggesting that perhaps the boyfriend came back to the house? The bridge is wide open say from 9PM - 4AM. Work traffic starts about 4:30 - 8:30. I would think LE would be able to find his car on camera though, as this is a popular jump bridge with lots of cameras, and if he (or even Dina for that matter) tried to scoot back home for a few hours, they would be pretty easy to spot - IMHO.

Best,

Mel

Someone could drive on down I-5, head through Imperial Beach and up Silver Strand to get back to the house. They'd have to pass the Navy Amphib/SEAL bases, though, which surely have cameras trained at the road. Of course, cameras are most likely to give a clear view of a car but not necessarily the driver.
It will take a lot to convince me that this was a suicide or a coincidence.

 

[time]

Hospitals have cameras in every hall and entrance 24/7, if either parent had left it will be shown. Everything so far says both parents were in the hospital. There is no sneaking out of a hospital.

Yeah, but, for one, who's checking on them. I don't really think either of them directly did it anyway, but I think they are both suspect based on t he little we know.

I'd actually like to know about security cameras at the house.

 

[Charlie09]

I agree with you! As I mentioned in an earlier post, if these 2 incidents happened in a low rent district in San Diego, or even middle income - I believe the investigation would be handled much differently. Instead we have a mult-millionaire, living in a very exclusive community, with limited LE resources (not even a homicide division). It would be quite easy to walk into a influential property owners home and assume Maxie's death was an accident - and write if off as such. Had it been somewhere else, the parents would most likely be hauled in for child abuse at minimum - or neglect.

Then when Rebecca was found dead, they couldn't just brush it under the carpet.

Interesting dynamics --

Mel

My only problem with this scenario is the other residents on the island. He seems to have really rubbed people the wrong way. Seems like they would have insisted on an investigation especially with all the gossip.

 

[raysgirl1126]

Wow! Just got thru reading thru all the posts, this case is just werid!

 

[obmama]

Now, I am wondering when the brother, Adam, arrived. Anyone know?

Here's the video taped interview with the Memphis neighbor.
http://www.wmctv.com/story/15091608...others-san-diego-mansion?clienttype=printable

What makes this curious is why he said he was going back to work on the tugboat. It sounds like he got home from work Monday, got a message from JS about Max, and jumped on the next plane to San Diego. It's not unusual that he would travel to San Diego when his nephew suffered a grave injury. Why lie?

ABC News conducted a vary interesting interview with him (probably Friday or Saturday). He said he spoke to Adam, who was being interviewed by police, but said he wasn't involved with RS's death. Then the neighbor said something like "with that family I'm really not surprised something like this would happen". Then clammed up.

You'll see where AS lives in downtown Memphis, a 725 sq ft apartment that has seen better days. You'd think his multi-millionaire brother would buy him a friggin house!

The only picture published of Adam was unimpressive, like "not all there", but it could be the grainy quality. I wondered why Memphis? He graduated from George Washington U in DC, and works on a tugboat? His brother couldn't line up a job for him? I now think he doesn't want anything from his brother.

I can't say I'm not worried either. Would his own brother set him up? JS hasn't been back since the accident. If he's at all involved with RN's death, he sure implicated his brother.

I must be naive, because I didn't see JS for what he is. Don't travel in those circles! People with his money usually inherit it, not go from "average" to filthy rich. I got my answer when I saw he was in politics in his early years. I thought people who trashed him on the message boards were envious, but I see differently as this mystery unravels. No word of sorrow about losing his gf of 2 years, that's a cold man.
-

 

[Jade]

Ok,I am going to play devil's advocate. Go ahead and get ready to whoop me you guys. Rebecca, from everything I can surmise is a survivor. I might go so far as to say a tough little cookie. Mentally i will go so far to say ....she had to be a bit Machiavelli to achieve what she desired. A person can tic off a lot of people by being ambitious. Even if she snapped from the stress.... I just cannot see a person with her makeup choosing to destroy herself in such a humiliating way. But, and I say this with well earned humility..I have been wrong.:slap:

Can you expound on how you came to your personality profile?

This is the most I could find on her background:


http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jul/15/woman-mansion-mystery-devoted-tycoon-boyfriend/

The former employer described Rebecca as devoted; full of life, and in the article with quote from the gym she was friendly with a ready “Hi”.

But that shoplifting mentioned in above linked article is brazen and fairly recent.

I’m not sure I can put suicide in the category of humiliating with respect to those who have made this sad choice.

She was a thin, very fit person who worked out four days a week when in Coronado.

So the humiliation of being nude may not be as humiliating as to some of us – not projecting onto you though!

But having achieved the pinnacle of achievement in your post scenario only to see it all falling apart…

http://coronado.patch.com/articles/autopsy-on-spreckels-victim-complete-but-detectives-not-ready-to-discuss-cause-of-death

The Sheriffs homicide unit is currently trying to interview the victim’s family.

Two days after her death little information has come to light about Nalepa outside of the grisly details of her death.

Photos of Nalepa aired by local broadcasters show a slim young woman smiling into the camera or posing with friends. No one has spoken of her interests, education, where she grew up or of her closest kin. Public records indicate she used to live in Phoenix.

and

Reached at her home in Spring, TX., Phyllis Manno would not comment Friday. The Arizona Republic identified Manno as the victim's aunt.

“The family has nothing to say at this time,” Manno said.

The family doesn’t want to express their condolences for a child Rebecca thought of as her own or state Rebecca’s loss is a shock or something?

:fence:

 

[colette]

Yeah, but, for one, who's checking on them. I don't really think either of them directly did it anyway, but I think they are both suspect based on t he little we know.

Pediatric units are also a secure unit in themselves. They are locked units and the public can not just come and go. The intensive care unit is even more observed and secure inside the pediatric unit. No way the parents left without being noticed, no way to sneak back in.

 

[obmama]

My only problem with this scenario is the other residents on the island. He seems to have really rubbed people the wrong way. Seems like they would have insisted on an investigation especially with all the gossip.

His immediate neighbors are like him, summer residents from Arizona.

The permanent residents don't seem to mind. It's entertaining and attracts tourists. They know a serial killer isn't on the loose, that these incidents were the result of malfeasance within the confines of his mansion.

This mystery is historical, capturing world wide attention, and it's happening in their own backyard.

 

[MsFacetious]

Rebecca?

Why does a dead person need a defense attorney? I know I'm missing something here, I always do! :waitasec:

Pfingst showed up Wednesday after, after Rebecca's body was found Wednesday morning.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mansion-deaths-20110719,0,5382026.story

Within hours of the discovery of Nalepa's body — as news helicopters circled overhead — attorney Paul Pfingst, former two-term district attorney, now one of the region's top criminal defense attorneys, showed up at the mansion. Pfingst would only say that he's been hired to represent someone in the case.

http://www.760kfmb.com/story/150755...mansion-owners-son-girlfriend?redirected=true

Wednesday evening, former District Attorney and current defense attorney Paul Pfingst showed up at the crime scene. Pfingst confirmed to News 8 that he had been hired to represent someone connected with this case, although he would not specify who his client is.

"I'm not Jonah's lawyer. I've never spoke with him. As far as I know he's not a suspect of any type," Pfingst said in a statement.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/125764328.html

Forensic evidence will be key in determining whether the death of a woman at a Coronado mansion was a suicide or a homicide

Source: Forensics Key in Solving Mansion Mystery | NBC San Diego

Can't imagine what forensics would do.

​

Was she tied up violently before she was hanged?

Was there a struggle?

Does she have bruises or abrasions from being sexually assaulted?

Those shouldn't be consistent with sex games, I would think it's going a bit far if someone is getting physically injured.

Was there drugs in her system?

Was there enough drugs in her system that she could not have tied herself up?

Was she already dead when she was hanged?

Was she beaten before she was hanged?

Does she have evidence under her fingernails?

 

[time]

Here's the video taped interview with the Memphis neighbor.
http://www.wmctv.com/story/15091608...others-san-diego-mansion?clienttype=printable

What makes this curious is why he said he was going back to work on the tugboat. It sounds like he got home from work Monday, got a message from JS about Max, and jumped on the next plane to San Diego. It's not unusual that he would travel to San Diego when his nephew suffered a grave injury. Why lie?

ABC News conducted a vary interesting interview with him (probably Friday or Saturday). He said he spoke to Adam, who was being interviewed by police, but said he wasn't involved with RS's death. Then the neighbor said something like "with that family I'm really not surprised something like this would happen". Then clammed up.

You'll see where AS lives in downtown Memphis, a 725 sq ft apartment that has seen better days. You'd think his multi-millionaire brother would buy him a friggin house!

The only picture published of Adam was unimpressive, like "not all there", but it could be the grainy quality. I wondered why Memphis? He graduated from George Washington U in DC, and works on a tugboat? His brother couldn't line up a job for him? I now think he doesn't want anything from his brother.

I can't say I'm not worried either. Would his own brother set him up? JS hasn't been back since the accident. If he's at all involved with RN's death, he sure implicated his brother.

I must be naive, because I didn't see JS for what he is. Don't travel in those circles! People with his money usually inherit it, not go from "average" to filthy rich. I got my answer when I saw he was in politics in his early years. I thought people who trashed him on the message boards were envious, but I see differently as this mystery unravels. No word of sorrow about losing his gf of 2 years, that's a cold man.
-

Thanks ... I think your theory is interesting. The two brothers are certainly opposite or so it seems. The family is from New York originally. It very well could be that Adam was set-up - the timing is so weird since he must have arrived in SD (or some airport near Coronado) late at night or in the early morning hours (after the sister called Rebecca?) Was she totally left alone in that house till he arrived? Just trying to get a sense of things.

It seems no party happened on Tues, but did the neighbors still report loud noises? I know where the 'party was planned' came from, but where did the neighbors reporting noise come from?

 

[obmama]

Just click the "quote" button at the bottom right of the post you ar relpying to. The original post will appear in the box and you just start typing your reply a couple of spaces below.

Welcome!

Thank you! I figured it out!

 

[time]

Pediatric units are also a secure unit in themselves. They are locked units and the public can not just come and go. The intensive care unit is even more observed and secure inside the pediatric unit. No way the parents left without being noticed, no way to sneak back in.

I assume they took breaks and went for lunch ... maybe just long enough to talk with someone outside. I don't think that would seem suspicious. Otherwise, I'd be looking closely at their phone calls as well as checking out all footage at the hospital to see who they were communicating with to eliminate them as suspects.