Who Had Motive, Method & Opportunity?!

[inthedark14]

It should be properly investigated by homicide detectives. Maybe she does suspect Jonah was there but her suspicions at this point are all she has.

JMO

I don't believe she needs to make accusations specific. That's up to LE to determine who was there and has told the truth, not Dina.

JMO

Hi MB! Thanks for the responses! DS has made her accusations quite specific. Do you have any reason to think that she would accuse JS in some way? Also, since you've stated that he may have already made a settlement with DS (privately, out of court) why do you think he would do that? Do you think that doing so would prevent her from speaking in the MSM against him? As she has so publicly spoken against RZ and her sister. If that is the case, do you feel that it is ok that she went after a grieving father (she must have in some way went after him if there was an out-of-court settlement) but it's not ok for people to wonder why she is going after a grieving family and a minor? I'm really just trying to look at all sides here and I'd very much appreciate your opinion on this. TIA

Always, MOO

 

[K_Z]

Dr. Melinek has served as an forensic pathologist and an expert witness for the prosecution. I find her credible.

I think a jury will find her very credible.

JMO

Snipped for relevance.

She is very highly educated, and has has many laudable career aspects. However, none of that equals credible when the individual deviates so severely from their area of expertise. She will be excoriated and immensely embarrassed if she is deposed or testifies to her original report. That will kill her credibility with the mainstream and ordinary people called for jury duty, IMO. She comes off as arrogant. Juries don't respect arrogant experts.

If one goes back and watches the interaction between Dr. Phil and Dr. Melinek, and then between Dr. Wecht and Dr. Melinek, the studio audience clearly expressed enthusiasm, or approval, with the comments of Dr. Wecht, as compared to Dr. Melinek. If we use the studio audience as a little micro sample of the population called for jury duty ( and yes, I know that's not a scientific sample), well, my observation is that the vast majority of the jury population may not agree that Dr. Melinek's comments and observations are MORE credible than a similarly credentialed peer (Dr. Wecht). It will be a war of experts, to be sure.

I don't agree that a jury will find Dr. Melinek's comments and opinions on THIS case to be credible. Her credibility will be shot as soon as People Magazine, Wikipedia, and the hate filled anonymous blog comments are revealed She has vastly overstepped her boundaries by naming Rebecca in her report.

And I also hold the opinion that her work on this case breached ethical boundaries. I believe she took advantage of Dina Shacknai, and took her money to further Dina's far fetched ideas in an unethical manner.

 

[K_Z]

Adam graduated from George Washington University in 1985......no other known facts other than he moved to Memphis shortly after.........And about the caller ID being displayed: it would depend upon if the caller was "sending" or "blocking" their number.

Wow. That is surprising, meaning his educational background. I'm curious now-- what is his degree in? Apparently, whatever it was, he is not working in that area of study. Could be for economic reasons, or a lot of other personal reasons.

Being a G-Dub grad is a pretty good "launch" plan. I'm curious about his deviation from a professional path. Wonder why?

 

[K_Z]

Your opinion is that Dr. Melinek's report is flawed. You are not a forensic pathologist are you? Her expert opinion is that Max was a homicide victim. The expert at Rady Hospital requested a CPS investigation. According to them, there is evidence that merits further criminal investigation.

That's more than enough for me to form an opinion that a homicide investigation is needed.

JMO

Well, believe it or not, it is actually possible for a certified expert to be wrong.

And, BTW, lots of professionals besides forensic pathologists are able and qualified to read and interpret the (musings) report of a forensic pathologist. It doesn't take a Harvard degree to do that, lol!

Judy Melinek, IMO, is a very bright professional who succumbed to the allure of $600/hr clients. Billing is seductive, and doesn't require much real work when the client wants you to read People Magazine, Wikipedia, and anonymous chat blog posts for $600/hr. I still wonder who got the better end of THAT deal, lol!

She is an opinion bought and paid for on his case, IMO. Her opinions in the Hannah Overton case demonstrates that as well, IMO.

 

[MissJ]

Sounds logical to me and it is a thought I have had a time or two, since he came out to 'support Jonah' and didn't even stay at the hospital with him!!

This was my thoughts precisely! Why indeed, there but not at hospital,...how did this.support JS? How, exactly did that work?

 

[Inparadise]

Wow. That is surprising, meaning his educational background. I'm curious now-- what is his degree in? Apparently, whatever it was, he is not working in that area of study. Could be for economic reasons, or a lot of other personal reasons.

Being a G-Dub grad is a pretty good "launch" plan. I'm curious about his deviation from a professional path. Wonder why?

I believe that I read somewhere that he graduated with a BA in English Literature......

 

[*Lash*]

I've followed this case pretty closely, and I don't recall seeing very much about AS's background, nor do I recall seeing when exactly others learned of XZ's leg injury. More specifically, I welcome answers to the following questions:

- Do we know if AS may have some type of developmental disability that might make him vulnerable to manipulation by others? I have seen discussions of money as a motive and I'm not asking about that. I'm specifically asking if he may be more vulnerable to manipulation due to a developmental disability.

- Do we know when JS, AS, DS and/or NR became aware of XZ's leg injury? I recall noting Rebecca's phone records showed she received voice mail from an urgent care facility (reportedly to confirm a follow-up appointment for XZ) around the time she was reportedly having dinner with JS, AS and HL. Additionally, I'm unfamiliar with Rebecca's brand of mobile phone and I'm wondering if the caller ID would have flashed on the cover of the phone at that time.

If anyone has answers to these questions, thank you in advance for responding.

Please note, I'm not attempting to put forth a scenario with these questions. These are just a few of many questions I've had since the deaths occurred, but I've never seen these particular questions addressed. Forgive me if I missed something on earlier threads.

All of the above is just my opinion.

Hi Zinn -

Here is some detailed info on XZ's visit to urgent care and Rebecca's cellphone. RZ had a Samsung Focus Windows phone.

Also listed on Zahau's cell phone logs was an incoming call at 7:09 p.m. on July 12 from Coronado Bay Urgent Care in Imperial Beach.

Rebecca's 13-year-old sister had received stitches in her leg at the urgent care center on Monday, July 11 after cutting herself on glass. The center was calling to confirm a follow-up appointment for Wednesday.

That appointment was canceled because Zahau had already dropped off the teenager at the airport in the afternoon of July 12 for her return flight to Missouri.

http://www.cbs8.com/story/15485069/records-reveal-final-cell-phone-calls-to-rebecca-zahau

Later, the police returned to Shacknai’s mansion and took Rebecca and Xena to a clinic. “The 13-year-old insisted on cleaning up the broken glass and cut herself,” says Sheriff Gore. Xena required four stitches. Afterward, the police drove Rebecca to the emergency room to see Max.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/09/18/what-really-happened-in-the-coronado-mansion.html

Homicide Lt. Larry Nesbit said this week that detectives decided to wait to manually examine the phone, because they were concerned that operating the Samsung Focus Window Phone might overwrite evidence in the device's memory.

http://www.cbs8.com/story/15538406/family-releases-200-pages-of-zahau-phone-records

 

[MyBelle]

Snipped for relevance.

She is very highly educated, and has has many laudable career aspects. However, none of that equals credible when the individual deviates so severely from their area of expertise. She will be excoriated and immensely embarrassed if she is deposed or testifies to her original report. That will kill her credibility with the mainstream and ordinary people called for jury duty, IMO. She comes off as arrogant. Juries don't respect arrogant experts.

If one goes back and watches the interaction between Dr. Phil and Dr. Melinek, and then between Dr. Wecht and Dr. Melinek, the studio audience clearly expressed enthusiasm, or approval, with the comments of Dr. Wecht, as compared to Dr. Melinek. If we use the studio audience as a little micro sample of the population called for jury duty ( and yes, I know that's not a scientific sample), well, my observation is that the vast majority of the jury population may not agree that Dr. Melinek's comments and observations are MORE credible than a similarly credentialed peer (Dr. Wecht). It will be a war of experts, to be sure.

I don't agree that a jury will find Dr. Melinek's comments and opinions on THIS case to be credible. Her credibility will be shot as soon as People Magazine, Wikipedia, and the hate filled anonymous blog comments are revealed She has vastly overstepped her boundaries by naming Rebecca in her report.

And I also hold the opinion that her work on this case breached ethical boundaries. I believe she took advantage of Dina Shacknai, and took her money to further Dina's far fetched ideas in an unethical manner.

Your effort to discredit Dr. Melenik is noted. With all due respect, you are not an expert forensic pathologist therefore you don't know that Dr. Melenik has deviated from her area of expertise and you are not in a position to say that she is wrong. I'm not either and it is my opinion she is very credible and a jury will also find her credible. No expert pathologist so far has even attempted to counter her expert analysis.

I don't believe Dr. Wecht offered an opinion about Max's death. Dr. Phil is a celebrity entertainer and it is silly to place any significance on the reaction of his studio audience, whatever that may have been.

When it comes to the death of a small child, I think most juries are sympathetic to the child and are also keenly aware that child abuse is a reality in our world.

We'll just have to agree to disagree.

JMO

 

[MyBelle]

Hi MB! Thanks for the responses! DS has made her accusations quite specific. Do you have any reason to think that she would accuse JS in some way? Also, since you've stated that he may have already made a settlement with DS (privately, out of court) why do you think he would do that? Do you think that doing so would prevent her from speaking in the MSM against him? As she has so publicly spoken against RZ and her sister. If that is the case, do you feel that it is ok that she went after a grieving father (she must have in some way went after him if there was an out-of-court settlement) but it's not ok for people to wonder why she is going after a grieving family and a minor? I'm really just trying to look at all sides here and I'd very much appreciate your opinion on this. TIA

Always, MOO

I don't believe Dina is "going after" after anyone other than those she feels is responsible for the death of her child. She can't be sure until there is a complete homicide investigation. Most loving parents would do the same thing in demanding justice for their child. Sharon Rocha was relentless yet there were those who camped out on the Internet saying hateful things about her. Same folks who spend their days watching Dr. Phil and Jerry Springer, imo.

If there is evidence of murder, shouldn't the guilty party be held accountable no matter the age? I hold the opinion that accountability is part of our justice system and age should only be a factor at sentencing.

JMO

 

[freespeech]

Who Had Motive, Method & Opportunity?!

Coronado Neighbors
Opportunity: Yes
Method: Possibly
Motive: Not likely

Mary Zahau:
Opportunity: Possibly
Method: Possibly
Motive: Not likely

Anne Bremner:
Opportunity: Possibly
Method: Possibly
Motive: Not likely

Mexican drug cartel:
Opportunity: Possibly
Method: Possibly
Motive: Not likely (They would have killed Adam too, no?)

Nina
Opportunity: Yes
Method: Possibly
Motive: Yes

Adam
Opportunity: Yes
Method: Yes
Motive: Yes

Well you get the idea so I'll leave the rest to the reader's imagination.

JMO

 

[time]

Who Had Motive, Method & Opportunity?!

I would say Dina, Nina, and Adam as far as we know... maybe Jonah had the last two. For me though, it is Dina who had the motive.

 

[Inparadise]

I would say Dina, Nina, and Adam as far as we know... maybe Jonah had the last two. For me though, it is Dina who had the motive.

IMO, I would include Jonah in the "motive" category as well: if Rebecca knew what really happened, and he convinced her to tell LE a different version, then he ran the risk of her coming clean eventually, and that was unacceptable to him. His reason/motive for wanting her to go along with the story surrounding Max's accident could have been a couple different reasons: self-protection, or protecting his older children.........the where abouts of all 3 of them has not been documented.

 

[MyBelle]

I would say Dina, Nina, and Adam as far as we know... maybe Jonah had the last two. For me though, it is Dina who had the motive.

That's quite a leap in logic in RZ's case that doesn't make sense to me.

Can you cite a case where a parent revenged a child's death not only prior to the death of the child but also prior to LE even investigating it as a homicide?

JMO

 

[iSleuth]

Quote:
Originally Posted by time
I would say Dina, Nina, and Adam as far as we know... maybe Jonah had the last two. For me though, it is Dina who had the motive.

IMO, I would include Jonah in the "motive" category as well: if Rebecca knew what really happened, and he convinced her to tell LE a different version, then he ran the risk of her coming clean eventually, and that was unacceptable to him. His reason/motive for wanting her to go along with the story surrounding Max's accident could have been a couple different reasons: self-protection, or protecting his older children.........the where abouts of all 3 of them has not been documented.

I agree and I don't think RZ was a very good fibber. ( her not using her married name is no evidence that she was a liar so please noone attack me on that) but I think these two posts above are really key. I think many people know and - This is where IMOO the message on the door fits in.

She saved him..." she" knew how the accident happened and wasnt going to press it push it with him and LE" can " he" save her?? (she the one with the anger and the motive )

can he...also save her in the same exact way....by not pressing charges and covering the trail, and getting to certain high powered LE to " drop it" all. after all HE would be the One to bring about the bulk of charges.
JMOO

Thank you for letting me express it.

 

[freespeech]

I would say Dina, Nina, and Adam as far as we know... maybe Jonah had the last two. For me though, it is Dina who had the motive.

At this point I really do not know who killed Rebecca.

However, it would be good if Jonah, Dina, Nina took LDTs and if Adam repeated his and if they all had solidly verified alibi's for July 12th and 13th, between the hours of 10:00PM through 6:30-7:00am, no?

With that being said and if it had been done and everyone was innocent then we would not be having this conversation now.

 

[time]

That's quite a leap in logic in RZ's case that doesn't make sense to me.

Can you cite a case where a parent revenged a child's death not only prior to the death of the child but also prior to LE even investigating it as a homicide?

JMO

Can you cite a case where a woman committed suicide by hanging (and with a very long rope tied way inside the house), naked, outdoors, hands and feet bound with exotic knots, hands tied behind her back, on her period, mouth gagged, had to climb over a balcony railing to boot, and with a third person note painted on an interior door that appeared to be related to a death just 1 1/2 days before. Did I forget anything?

 

[time]

IMO, I would include Jonah in the "motive" category as well: if Rebecca knew what really happened, and he convinced her to tell LE a different version, then he ran the risk of her coming clean eventually, and that was unacceptable to him. His reason/motive for wanting her to go along with the story surrounding Max's accident could have been a couple different reasons: self-protection, or protecting his older children.........the where abouts of all 3 of them has not been documented.

Hi IP... I greatly respect your opinion. The reason I do not think it was Jonah is the method. No way he would kill Rebecca leaving such a horrendous crime scene. That would just attract publicity big time. If he wanted Rebecca dead, I think he would have arranged a believable car wreck or something of that sort. I guess he could have lost it, but I don't think so. I think her murder was planned.

 

[Inparadise]

Hi IP... I greatly respect your opinion. The reason I do not think it was Jonah is the method. No way he would kill Rebecca leaving such a horrendous crime scene. That would just attract publicity big time. If he wanted Rebecca dead, I think he would have arranged a believable car wreck or something of that sort. I guess he could have lost it, but I don't think so. I think her murder was planned.

I agree that he would not want to attract publicity, but he did have a reason(s) for this.....IMO.

 

[MyBelle]

Can you cite a case where a woman committed suicide by hanging (and with a very long rope tied way inside the house), naked, outdoors, hands and feet bound with exotic knots, hands tied behind her back, on her period, mouth gagged, had to climb over a balcony railing to boot, and with a third person note painted on an interior door that appeared to be related to a death just 1 1/2 days before. Did I forget anything?

Suicides are not crimes, their details are rarely published in the media and I doubt LE keeps track of details.

I do not consider the nudity or hanging at all unusual. I believe the bindings are related to the viewed on the home's computer. I think RZ wanted to embarrass Jonah by exposing herself to the outside world and she accomplished her goal.

JMO

 

[Inparadise]

Can you cite a case where a woman committed suicide by hanging (and with a very long rope tied way inside the house), naked, outdoors, hands and feet bound with exotic knots, hands tied behind her back, on her period, mouth gagged, had to climb over a balcony railing to boot, and with a third person note painted on an interior door that appeared to be related to a death just 1 1/2 days before. Did I forget anything?

Just the fact that her long hair was underneath the rope.......women with long hair always pull their hair to the outside of a sweater, scarf, jacket......