I signed Dina's petition on her web site Bonnie. Thanks for posting this news for us and my hope is Dina finds the support she needs to have the case reopened. Heartbreaking. Both victims were brutally robbed of their lives at such young ages.
Look forward to the airing of Dr Phil with the families on together.
Have you been able to communicate to Dina yet? Godspeed Bonnie.
By Dr. Drew staff updated 11:00 PM EDT, Mon September 10, 2012
'I'm angry and I'm frustrated and I'm demoralized,' Dina Shacknai tells Dr. Drew The system 'failed me and Max,' she adds
Was 6-year-old Max Shacknai, the son of prominent pharmaceutical executive Jonah Shacknai, assaulted before plunging to his death over a staircase balcony inside his father's San Diego mansion last year?
On Monday night, Dina Shacknai, the boy’s mother, told HLN’s Dr. Drew, “We've heard from the Coronado Police Department [and] they have elected not to reopen Max's investigation.”
The mother of a boy who died in the Spreckels Mansion last summer stood before the Coronado City Council Tuesday and begged councilmembers to re-open the case of her son's death.
Dina Shacknai has disputed the San Diego County Sheriff's Department's classification of her son Max's death as an accident after he fell from the Coronado home's stairwell. She maintains that he was assaulted and killed, and has presented independent evidence that she says disputes the original manner of Max's death.
"I'm here to be the voice of Max Shacknai since he can no longer speak for himself," said Dina, the former wife of Jonah Shacknai, who owned the house.
She was tearful when she spoke to NBC 7 before the meeting, saying it was difficult to be back in Coronado, where she remembers spending every birthday with her son. She said it was the last place she told him she loved him.
After Max fell, he spent about a week in the hospital, but died as a result of his injuries. Days after Max's fall, Jonah's girlfriend Rebecca Zahau was found hanging naked from the home's balcony. Her death was ruled suicide, but her family also maintains that she was killed.
Dina also asked the Coronado Police Department to review the evidence her team of experts compiled that she says proves Max's death was a homicide.
The investigators detailed a scenario in a 29-page report in which Max was assaulted and then pushed over the stairwell. The only two people inside the mansion at the time of the fall were Rebecca and her teenage sister.
Police maintain that Max accidentally tripped over a second-flood railing and fell, hitting his forehead.
Dina's voice trembled as she spoke at the council meeting. She said that the sheriff's department's conclusion that Max fell over the banister by accident "defy laws of gravity." The Coronado Police Department declined to change Max's death from accident to homicide.
Coronado's mayor said they would not re-open the case and will honor the police department's decision.
Last Edited by on Sep 19, 2012 11:55 AM
Admire your work Bonnie. I know Rebecca reached out to and you are working to get to the bottom of these horrific crimes. The greed and corruption is so disheartening and our judicial system an American travesty.
I admire your fortitude and perseverance Bonnie. God speed!
The Spreckels mansion in Coronado, the scene of two mysterious deaths in 2011, now has a new owner. The 10-bedroom mansion at 1043 Ocean Blvd. was totally remodeled after the highly publicized deaths of multimillionaire Jonah Shacknai’s 6-year-old son, from a fall, and his girlfriend, Rebecca Zahau, found hanging from a balcony.
Listed for $16.9 million in May, public records indicate the home sold on June 25 for $9 million, significantly less than Shacknai’s purchase price of $12.75 million in early 2007.
The buyer of record is “1043 Ocean Boulevard LLC,” which is associated with Robert Harris, owner of Harris Air Inc., a private aircraft company in Logan, Utah.
The 12,750-square-foot home, built in 1907 for John D. Spreckels, has been designated as historic and given a reduced property tax value of $7.7 million.
Last Edited by sdparanormal on Jul 11, 2013 1:27 PM
Is there any updates on the case and have the family succeeded on getting the case reopened? What does the second autopsy reveal about Rebecca's death? Please shed some light on her story. Have you made contact with her recently and how is she and Max doing?
Thank you Bonnie for helping the departed God Bless
Rebecca's family have put this back in the news recently. There is a new case filed with accusations regarding who they feel were involved in Rebecca's death.
However, the tact they are taking is not consistent with the information I provided to their former attorneys. I noticed that a new attorney is representing the family. I have not heard from Rebecca, but I did provide the information she gave me to both sides. She really would have no reason to contact me again. If she does I will of course do what I can to assist her.
I have spoken with Dr. Klein and spent the day with DS and told her my information. I put all of my documentation in her hands. I will never forget her reaction. This is why I am so sure that the current lawsuit is unfounded. It is sad but large amounts of money can make any situation disappear. The mansion has been remodeled to change the rooms where these events took place. No amount of remodeling will hide the energy of what happened there.
Obtaining evidence that will hold up in court is quite another matter. The original case(s) remained closed.
I personally found Adam Shacknai very off-putting and suspiicious. He seemed to have no true emotion with regards to what he was witness to and he was parroting the "she must have committed suicide because she was upset" party line. There is more to his being there at that time.
Also the message on the door by all appearances was addressed to Jonah Shaknai. This seems to have been designed to cause pain TO him.
Last Edited by Irina on Aug 25, 2014 7:52 PM
Zahau Family's Wrongful Death Lawsuit Moves Forward The suit claims Rebecca Zahau's 2011 death was a murder, not a suicide
By Andie Adams and Danya Bacchus
Friday, Oct 17, 2014 • Updated at 6:09 AM PDT
The wrongful death lawsuit filed in the case of Rebecca Zahau, whose body was found hanging at a historic Coronado mansion, will move forward, a federal judge ordered this week.
Zahau’s family claims her death was a murder, not a suicide, perpetrated by family members of the alleged victim’s millionaire boyfriend Jonah Shacknai, who owned the famous Spreckels Mansion where Zahau’s nude body was discovered dangling from a second-story balcony on July 13, 2011.
"Nobody that's looked at this evidence has said it's anything other than murder," said Zahau family attorney Keith Greer.
After a lawsuit was dismissed three times, the family filed an amended wrongful death complaint in July 2014 against defendants Adam and Dina Shacknai — Jonah’s brother and ex-wife — and Dina’s twin sister Nina Romano, claiming they conspired to batter Zahau.
"The judge in this case made us really come forward with evidence and show exactly who did what, when they did it and how they did it," said Greer. "And we included that in this complaint."
On Wednesday, United States District Judge Thomas Whelan denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
The Zahau family refuses to accept the results of the San Diego County Sheriff’s investigation, which found Zahau committed suicide by hanging because she felt guilty over the death of Jonah’s 6-year-old son Max. The boy had died just two days before her death after falling at home under Zahau’s watch.
Instead, the $10 million lawsuit claims Adam, Dina and Nina “actively participated in the planning, implementation, execution and subsequent concealment of the scheme to murder (Zahau).”
Dina is accused of striking Zahau in the back of the head four times with a blunt object as she and Nina confronted the alleged victim about Max’s death.
"We had an independent medical examiner look at the case. He found four blows on the back of her head that the San Diego Cororner didn't find," said Greer.
He claims once Zahau was unconscious, the three defendants had to figure out what to do next.
The plaintiffs say Adam carried Zahau’s body into the house, where the trio stripped off her clothing, gagged her, and tied her up with tape.
According to the lawsuit, Adam allegedly bound Zahau with a rope and chocked her to death, later throwing her body over the edge of an adjacent balcony while “either Dina or Nina was sitting on the bed to which the rope was secured,” the court document states.
Zahau’s family accuses Dina of instructing Adam to paint the cryptic message “SHE SAVED HIM. CAN YOU SAVE HER” on the door outside.
The motive: Max's death, Greer alleges.
"Dina thinks that Rebecca was involved with her son's death, Rebecca stole her husband. That's the kind of rage that kills," said Greer.
Attempts to reach Dina on this latest development were unsuccessful.
But in court documents, the defendants flatly deny all the accusations put forward in the lawsuit.
Their attorneys say the complaint remains “devoid of facts and this lace of factual content makes the allegations made on information and believe implausible.”
The claim directly contradicts the coroner’s findings, which stated Zahau’s cause of death was suicide.
However, Judge Whelan said looking at the accusations in a light most favorable to the plaintiffs, the factual allegations are sufficient to support the conspiracy theory.
Greer believes the case will not be settled and will go to a jury trial. Depositions start next week.
Source: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/-Rebecca-Zahaus-Family-Wrongful-Death-Lawsuit-Moves-Forward-Jonah-Shacknai-Adam-Dina-Nina-Romano-Coronado-Spreckels-Mansion-279511432.html#ixzz3GRqR2ynk Follow us: @nbcsandiego on Twitter | NBCSanDiego on Facebook
Zahau Lawsuit Alleging Murder Is "Baseless": Attorney
The lawsuit accuses Jonah Shacknai's family of killing Rebecca Zahau in a Coronado mansion By Andie Adams
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2014 • Updated at 7:38 PM PDT
Attorneys for a woman accused of killing Rebecca Zahau call a lawsuit against her “baseless and senseless.”
Dina Shacknai’s lawyers released a statement Wednesday to refute the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Zahau family.
The suit gives the family’s account of what happened on July 13, 2011, when Zahau’s nude body was found hanging from the historic Spreckels Mansion in Coronado.
While sheriff’s investigators found Zahau killed herself over the death of her boyfriend Jonah Shacknai’s son, Max, her parents allege she was murdered by Jonah’s relatives. Depositions in a $10 million civil lawsuit filed by the family of Rebecca Zahau, the woman whose body was found at the Spreckels Mansion on Coronado in July 2011. NBC 7's Danya Bacchus reports.
The $10 million lawsuit claims Adam and Dina Shacknai — Jonah’s brother and ex-wife — and Dina’s twin sister Nina Romano “actively participated in the planning, implementation, execution and subsequent concealment of the scheme to murder (Zahau).”
One week ago, a judge denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss the wrongful death complaint, allowing it to move forward.
“The court's ruling is not a statement as to whether or not the allegations are truthful, or proper, or even have any basis in fact,” said Kim Schumann, attorney for Dina Shacknai, in a release. “The complaint only contains allegations, and no evidence has been presented to the court to support these allegations.”
According to Schumann, the beginning phase of litigation allows plaintiffs to “allege almost whatever they want.”
The amended complaint accepted by the judge on Oct. 15 is the fourth incarnation of the lawsuit. Other versions were rejected because they were not specific enough in their allegations.
The latest lawsuit accuses Dina of striking Zahau in the back of the head four times with a blunt object as she and Nina confronted the alleged victim about Max’s death.
Once Zahau was unconscious, Adam, Dina and Romano had to plan what to do next, the lawsuit says.
The plaintiffs say Adam carried Zahau’s body into the house, where the trio stripped off her clothing, gagged her and tied her up with tape.
According to the lawsuit, Adam allegedly bound Zahau with a rope and choked her to death, later throwing her body over the edge of an adjacent balcony while “either Dina or Nina was sitting on the bed to which the rope was secured,” the court document states.
Zahau’s family accuses Dina of instructing Adam to paint the cryptic message “SHE SAVED HIM. CAN YOU SAVE HER” on the door outside.
Keith Greer, the Zahaus’ attorney, claims Dina thought Zahau was involved in her son’s death and that she stole her husband – the motives for killing her.
“The general public needs to be aware that the court did not determine or substantiate the accuracy of these allegations in making its ruling,” said Dina’s attorney Schumann in a statement. “The Plaintiffs obviously wish to portray their allegations in a light that will support their claims for recovery of money.”
She says when the facts come to light, Dina and Romano will be vindicated in Zahau’s death.
“Let me be perfectly clear. This is a baseless and senseless lawsuit,” said Schumann.
The attorneys say Dina’s reputation has been irreparably damaged by the allegations.
“We intend to swiftly and aggressively put an end to this matter by every legal means necessary, and will be taking appropriate steps to remedy Ms. Shacknai’s reputational damages and the harm done to the judicial process,” Schumann said.
Greer told NBC 7 depositions started this week. He expects the case will not be settled but will instead go to trial.
Source: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Rebecca-Zahau-Lawsuit-Alleging-Murder-is-Baseless-Attorney-Dina-Shacknai-Jonah-Max-Adam-Nina-Rameno-280137602.html#ixzz3GvzOcdOx Follow us: @nbcsandiego on Twitter | NBCSanDiego on Facebook
The civil trial is now set for March of 2017. Click on the link above for more information and some past history on this case.
My thoughts: You need to keep in mind that Max Shacknai actually died after Rebecca Zahau was murdered. Dina Shacknai was at her son's bedside at Rady's Children Hospital. The message painted on the door does not make sense with the premise alleged in the current Zahau family lawsuit. I will leave it at that.
Last Edited by sdparanormal on Mar 12, 2016 4:14 PM
The Trama induced fog is lifting for Dina and the Zahau family. Rebecca didn't hurt Max, Dina didn't murder Rebecca. Time to re-examine what Rebecca told Nina when picking her up from the airport. "Max fell from the bedroom". Hmmm.... that's strange because Jonah was telling Dina Max had a heart attack and tumbled down the stairs. After Rebecca's murder, Jonah only offered a confusing story of a supposed voicemail. Jonah knows what happened to both Max and Rebecca. He manipulated both parties until the bodies were buried and the cases could be prematurely closed. Let's hope Dina and the Zahau family continue to unite instead of pointing fingers at one another. Together they have a chance of discovering what really happened. Will it lead to a conviction? Probably not, as all the evidence has been destroyed or stolen from the evidence room.
Last Edited by Courtney7/11 on Apr 22, 2017 1:35 AM
