Rebecca Zahau (civil case)
A civil jury found Adam Shacknai responsible for Rebecca Zahau's death at the Spreckels mansion, despite the sheriff ruling it suicide. The family was awarded $5 million.
Rebecca Zahau, 32, was found hanging nude with her hands bound from a balcony of the Spreckels mansion in Coronado, California on July 13, 2011. The San Diego Sheriff's Department ruled her death a suicide.
The death occurred just two days after Max Shacknai, the 6-year-old son of Rebecca's boyfriend Jonah Shacknai, was critically injured falling down stairs at the same mansion. Max later died.
Rebecca's family disputed the suicide ruling, arguing it was physically impossible for her to bind herself in the manner described and that the scene was staged.
In a 2018 civil trial, a jury found Jonah's brother Adam Shacknai responsible for Rebecca's death by a preponderance of evidence. The family was awarded $5 million. Criminal charges were never filed.
Curated starting points for verifying and researching this case. Direct references are checked; search links are provided as further-reading aids. ColdCaseIndex is an index of public information — see a case correction? Email info@coldcaseindex.com.
Have Information About This Case?
Cold cases are solved when someone comes forward. Even a detail that seems minor can matter. If you have any information about this case, contact law enforcement through one of these channels:
- FBI Tips (tips.fbi.gov) — submit a tip online to the Federal Bureau of Investigation
- FBI Tip Line: 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324)
- The local police department or sheriff's office in California, or the state bureau of investigation
Tips can usually be submitted anonymously. To report an error on this page, email info@coldcaseindex.com.