Rebecca Nalepa - suicide or murder? #4

[Bonepile]

"Rebecca Mawaii Zahau, 32, Paradise Valley, Arizona, died Wednesday, July 13, 2011."

Interesting to note that she is listed as residing in Paradise Valley, Arizona and not California.

The video tribute speaks volumes about her and is one of the most beautiful tributes I have ever seen. May her family know comfort, love, peace, and understanding, and may Rebecca live in all our hearts forever.

And may justice prevail.

 

[Bonepile]

Is there a write-up or only the video?
Looking for name and ages of siblings, to see if she did have a teenage sister.
IMO

I think only the video other than that one line about her with full name listed, her age, her place of residence and her death date. I am amazed at what the family was able to put together of photos tracing her life and in an order that the funeral home could assemble into a slide show, and if "a photo speaks a thousand words" we have learned a lot about Rebecca and her family.

 

[Carrington]

What am I doing wrong I have the very first discussion on rebecca an then it is closed.I have been going thru each day to the closed to find the next continue, Is there a place at the top like Caylee's form was you can just click the next discussion? I know I am doing something wrong..open, close open close..DUH...Help..lol:floorlaugh:

Your not doing anything wrong.
One thread at a time for this case. I would think, depending on how LE rules, suicide or murder we may get a forum, if it gets more involved.
Suicide we are done, murder it goes on for the next 5 years or so........
IMO

 

[Paladine]

You can only "tag" people that have a Facebook account. I just searched RN's name and the one person that came up states:



And as far as GS not pointing - I wonder if she was annoyed at her brother for getting all the attention? Did she have a Bat Mitzvah? ES's party was at the "W" Hotel with entertainment and lots of "wow"-factor. Teens can get moody about stuff like that....

Not true. You can write anyones name in and tag them, account or not; I've done it. It simply won't lead to a profile...it'll appear black instead of blue.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

BBM....not sure I understand your question. Why do you think the suicide was staged to look like a murder? Didn't you post that the way she commit suicide is not uncommon? Not trying to pick on you....just trying to understand why you think it looks like a murder now versus early on in the case. (if I understood your post).

I guess it's sort of the same question Jeff Ashton asked at whatsherface's trial. Why would anyone stage an accident to look like a murder? It makes no sense.

In this case, I think it is what it is - a suicide
In the other case, I think it is what is - a murder

No, I didn't say it was common (like taking an overdose of drugs) but it does happen. Females do hang themselves.

What is rare is to do it publicly in a wide open area outside of a dwelling to be exposed to anyone and everyone who may come across the body. So if she had done these same things inside the mansion... like say for intstance......hanging from a light fixture or some overhead beam in a room somewhere then that would be more common, imo. Even being naked when doing so.

But by hanging herself over an outside balcony for everyone to see her naked and hung just seems more like what a murderer would do than a female that was wanting to hang herself. The ceilings in the mansion were certainly high enough to achieve that inside the home just by putting the rope around a light fixture and standing on a chair and pushing the chair out from under her with her feet.

So the exposure to the 'world' does seem more like a murder than a suicide. So if she was murdered why would they make the suicide look more like a murder than a suicide ? That is my point.

It is how she was found hanging from the outside balcony naked that makes many people think it was murder and the reason imo why LE says it was a violent and suspicious death.

imo

 

[oceanblueeyes]

I think only the video other than that one line about her with full name listed, her age, her place of residence and her death date. I am amazed at what the family was able to put together of photos tracing her life and in an order that the funeral home could assemble into a slide show, and if "a photo speaks a thousand words" we have learned a lot about Rebecca and her family.

I am so glad that most of the funeral home are doing this now. I know they are in my area and every funeral I have been to lately they have the video playing on a large tv screens and have compiled 100s of photos of the deceased showing their lives. It is priceless to see how they have photos of the deceased from when they were a small child all the way until their deaths.

They give the family a copy of the video too and they can also play them if they visit the funeral home's website. Some are even videoing the entire funeral service now and that too is given to the families so they can go back and listen to the eulogies others gave during the services.

IMO

 

[time]

Police reports detailing a bitter end to Jonah Shacknai and his second wife’s marriage were released late Monday, one day after their 6-year-old son died in a San Diego hospital while the recent death of Shacknai’s girlfriend remains under investigation.

The documents, which catalog two incidents, include 16 photographs of mainly scratches and bruises submitted by Dina Shacknai, allegedly purported by their dog, according to a Paradise Valley Police Department report.

On Sunday, Max Shacknai passed away from injuries sustained July 11 when he fell down stairs at his father’s Coronado mansion. Max was an organ donor, and his organs went to three different recipients, a source close to the family told NBCSanDiego Tuesday.

Last Wednesday, two days after the boy’s fall, Jonah Shacknai’s girlfriend, Rebecca Zahau, 32, was found dead, hanging from a second-story balcony at the same Spreckels Mansion in Coronado.

Investigators initially described the death as “violent” and “bizarre,” and forensics evidence is being processed before determining whether the death was criminal or a suicide.


On Sept. 13, 2008, Jonah Shacknai reported to police that Dina attempted to choke her and that his attack-trained female German Shepherd became excited and came between the two. He blamed his wife’s behavior on prescription medications and alcohol, according to a supplemental report.
Dina called the same night, reporting a dog attack. On the following day, she told police the dog had injured her before while Jonah “makes little to no effort to stop the dog,” according to a report.

Dina also submitted a two-page letter, describing Jonah as temperamental. She said the incident began over a disagreement with their child’s soiled bedding and that Jonah cursed at her in front of their child.
He “physically intimidated” her, she wrote, by “coming very close to (her), ‘nose to nose,’” and continuing to insult and threaten" her with name-calling in a “menacing tone.” She added that her attempts to keep an arm’s distance from Jonah during the incident resulted in her hand moving from his chest to his throat.
“Although Jonah feels entitled to name call, push etc, when I attempt to set boundaries via my personal space, he then assumes the role of victim,” Dina wrote.
The married couple was estranged by Jan. 4, 2009, when a second incident was reported to police. Dina alleged Jonah elbowed her in the right breast area.

Weeks later, in a formal letter to Chief John Bennett of the Paradise Valley Police Department dated Jan. 26, Jonah wrote Dina previously filed “false and misleading reports” about bruises on her body stemming from contact with their dog.

“Importantly,” Shacknai wrote, "Dina has been treated medically for years for a bruising disorder, whereby the slightest contact with an object or other material causes bruises. This information can certainly be verified medically.”

Shacknai, the prominent founder and CEO of Medicis, a pharmaceutical company based in Scottsdale, Ariz., wrote that although never feeling physically endangered, Dina physically assaulted him several times, once causing him a broken finger.

He wrote that Dina threw herself at his car on Jan. 4 while he was attempting to drive away from the home. She screamed that he had no right to leave her or the house, Jonah wrote.
“At this point, Dina also began attempting to slap me, again screaming, “You cannot leave me!” Jonah wrote. “I was able to gently nudge her from the car and withdraw from the premises without further incident.”
No charges were filed in either incidents.

On Monday, shortly before 9:30 p.m., Dina and Jonah Shacknai released a joint statement:


While our marriage did not work out as either of us had hoped, it did produce a wonderful son, Max, whom both of us loved very much. His loss is unimaginable. These police reports are not reflective of the totality or the precise details of the events during a difficult time in our marriage that we worked through together. The release of the records as we grieve Max’s recent loss pains us greatly, and we request that the privacy of our family be respected. The unfortunate attention to these records is a distraction from the most important concern of honoring our beautiful son, who lives on in both of our hearts.


Source: Details Shed on Shacknai's Second Divorce | NBC San Diego

Source: Details Shed on Shacknai's Second Divorce | NBC San Diego

There's lots here to comment on, but the part in purple sounds made-up.

What's bothersome apart from the obvious physical abuse, is that someone HAS to be lying. Maybe both. Perhaps the two of them made amends and came to terms with all this, but I'm not quite believing that. Stormy relationship tend to have their periods of bonding also, but it's typically or overall still dysfunctional.

from the statement:

a difficult time in our marriage that we worked through together.

I say BS, they didn't work through a difficult time in their marriage, they got divorced and I imagine that was contentious or at least their problems were not resolved and then they got a divorce, so the statement is misleading. At the most, I'd say they separated and filed while still going at it. Whether things were 'ok' once they didn't live together is not working it out.

 

[time]

I believe it. I can see a woman attack her husband if it is really late at night - he reads a story to the baby - and then says "i'm going out now"...(probably going to see the mistress). I can see a woman going crazy and wanting to get physical with the husband.

Me? I would have said "don't let the door hit you in the back but listen buddy when you get back let's talk divorce -- so make time for me." :rocker:

Wasn't it Jonah claiming she said "You cannot leave me"? What if that is not what she said or she said "You cannot leave" or he just made it up to make her look neurotic/hysterical.

My point is that I don't think these people fought over Rebecca per se. Jonah could have been seeing others or someone else also. Maybe Dina was sick of him leaving everytime they had a fight. Some people do that. Or maybe he left because he knew he might get out of control or she would not stop. Hard to know what the dynamics are between the two of them.

 

[celticthyme]

What a beautiful and loving tribute to Rebecca in the funeral video. After seeing this I am more convinced than ever she would be incapable of suicide, mostly because she loved life too much. There are so very few facts about this case, and I think $$ can buy a lot of silence!! Any other situation like this and reporters would be all over it. There has been a literal blackout on her death. Also a blackout on Dina, who is my prime suspect for this murder . . . motive? rage, revenge, anger. Maxxi was her last thread of connection to her former husband. My other thought is that she was dead before she was hung over the balcony, otherwise her head would be very discolored, which it is not in the photos. MOO

 

[time]

GS is tagged in that photo too...body language is interesting, imo. Others are pointing at E, in an effort to promote the 'center of attention' theme, it seems, to me...but not GS. Check her out...and JS, he's not pointing either.

Rebeccas not tagged...

I noticed this before, JS looks like he's posing as the center of attention or like it's a publicity pic - he's not looking at his son?

Wife #1 traded for a much younger model, interesting.

 

[Carrington]

I take a stormy divorce as all about money.
He's trying to keep it and she's trying to get a fair shake.
It's about the bottom line at that point.

IMO

 

[Hunnydolll]

Hello everyone! I am way behind - still in thread #3 but I notice a post by Pferrin re: police scanner from July 11. Has anyone listened to the police scanner from the 13th? I've pm'd pferrin to ask how to do it, but if anyone else knows how, please let me know! Thanks!!

 

[oceanblueeyes]

There's lots here to comment on, but the part in purple sounds made-up.

What's bothersome apart from the obvious physical abuse, is that someone HAS to be lying. Maybe both. Perhaps the two of them made amends and came to terms with all this, but I'm not quite believing that. Stormy relationship tend to have their periods of bonding also, but it's typically or overall still dysfunctional.

from the statement:



I say BS, they didn't work through a difficult time in their marriage, they got divorced and I imagine that was contentious or at least their problems were not resolved and then they got a divorce, so the statement is misleading. At the most, I'd say they separated and filed while still going at it. Whether things were 'ok' once they didn't live together is not working it out.

I don't think it is strange that they worked through their problems. Not all exes seethe with continued anger against the other one and the ones that don't actually have a much healthier attitude imo especially when they have a child or children together. I have heard exes say.....we couldn't be husband and wife but we have learned to be friends now that we are no longer married to each other.

IMO, it is the worst mistake possible for any parents to keep their own vendettas going after a divorce. It is far better if they really love and care about their child's best interest that they lay their animosity for each other aside. If they do not it puts so much needless pressure on the children that have to put up with their parents still being 'at war.' Imo children hate to be caught up in their parents power control issues. It throws them in the middle of a tornado.

The best thing parents can do for their children is to set aside any differences and show their children they can be friends with their daddy or mommy. It leaves the child feeling at ease, loved by both and not having to worry about who they are to show they love and it cuts out the parent from downgrading the other parent too which will backfire on them one day when the child gets older.

So I certainly do think Jonah and Dina could have decide to do the right thing for Max and for themselves too since resentment and anger is just extra baggage that only affects everyone negatively anyway.

I doubt if they were still at odds with each other they would have homes right close to each other. I think they both showed Maxie that they didn't have to be spiteful to each other and showed him constantly that he was their number one priority and they werent about getting some petty revenge either, imo.

IMO

 

[scorekeeper]

Very nice tribute of RN with lots of photos of her with friends & family.
Interesting, though, that there are no photos of her with JS or his children.....
unless I missed them.

Perhaps her family didn't have any......or perhaps they were asked not to include them

 

[time]

Very nice tribute of RN with lots of photos of her with friends & family.
Interesting, though, that there are no photos of her with JS or his children.....
unless I missed them.

I was just thinking the same thing.

 

[Paladine]

I really can'tbelieve that the parents would be staying round the clock at the hospital. Even the best parents will take turns. My best friends baby boy was born with a liver disfunction. He has had to have 2 liver transplants.

She and her hubby have taken turns at the hospital. Even when he was critically ill and her hubby had to work in another town.she would goto ronald macdonald to rest a little and shower and eat. Noone can be there round the clock day after day. I'd bet ya they took turns.

I was alone in a big city with my husband in ICU for a high level spinal cord injury. It is very stressful by that bed. I did leave once a day, for a few hours, to wash, eat and rest...the nurses seriously encouraged it. Here, ICU nursing is 1 on 1, I knew he was well overseen while I was gone. He, too, was in a coma, they induced it so he wouldn't flail about. He was unconcious and breathing through a trach. He stayed that way for a month...many complications; ICU felt like my home. Finally, after 3 months in ICU, he was sent to the Neuro Observation Unit....for 1 more month, before rehab. I met many parents, sisters, husbands, loved ones visiting...and all of them seemed to leave at some point to eat, sleep and shower. You have to, imo...or you fall apart.

ETA: Although we do not know if Maxie suffered a SCI, I also recall that we were told the first 24-48 seem to tell the tale with spinal cord injury...

 

[peace9274]

What a beautiful and loving tribute to Rebecca in the funeral video. After seeing this I am more convinced than ever she would be incapable of suicide, mostly because she loved life too much. There are so very few facts about this case, and I think $$ can buy a lot of silence!! Any other situation like this and reporters would be all over it. There has been a literal blackout on her death. Also a blackout on Dina, who is my prime suspect for this murder . . . motive? rage, revenge, anger. Maxxi was her last thread of connection to her former husband.

My other thought is that she was dead before she was hung over the balcony, otherwise her head would be very discolored, which it is not in the photos. MOO

BBM

I have said the very same thing a few times here.

If she were found close in time to when she was hanged, there
may not be much facial discoloration. But, it definitely looks as
though rigor mortis has set in, which means she was dead for awhile.

 

[time]

http://www.facebook.com/pages/RIP-Rebecca-Zahau/244749242210306?sk=wall

FB RIP Rebecca

Why does that page say "This Woman Was A Millionaire"

 

[Evan's Mom]

and that's NOT all that is "frozen" about him .. not by a long shot.

This man is a victim of tragic circumstances. Why do you say that?

 

[time]

Although I tend to believe if Rebecca's death is a murder, and not suicide, I believe the answers will come from someone in Dina's circle. However, I do not believe she would do this herself. I think if she were to, she would take a gun and shoot her, and be done with it. JMO

Who is Dina's sister? Some article a while back (posted) said she was with Dina/at the hospital.

I don't at all believe both of them were there 24/7 in the first place. Secondly, I think they knew all hope was lost within a very short time of Max's fall, they were not sitting vigil.