The Mysterious Death of Rebecca Zahau: Key Witnesses and Suspects
Madness Meter
Posted: October 14, 2025
The Rebecca Zahau Case: Unsolved Death at the Spreckels Mansion
The Rebecca Zahau case continues to raise more questions than it answers. In this chapter, we’re pulling back the curtain on the people closest to the mystery — the witnesses, family members, and key figures whose accounts and actions shaped the investigation into Rebecca’s shocking and controversial death at the Spreckels Mansion. Each had a role to play, and as we’ll see, their stories don’t always align.
Just Tuning In?
If you’re just joining us, welcome to My Sleuthing Addiction’s deep dive into the Rebecca Zahau case. This is part two of our four-part series, where we’re breaking down the tragedy piece by piece — from the case background, to the key witnesses and suspects, the theories and evidence, and finally, the aftermath and legacy that still leave us searching for answers today.
Catch up here before diving in:
Each week, we peel back another layer of the case — separating fact from speculation, and emotion from evidence.
Key Suspects and Witnesses
Rebecca Zahau
Age 32 • Ophthalmic Technician • Girlfriend of Jonah Shacknai
Connection: Resident of the Spreckels Mansion and romantic partner of Jonah Shacknai.
Timeline: Two days after Max’s fall (July 11), Rebecca’s body was discovered around 6:45 AM on July 13. She reportedly listened to a voicemail late that night.
Statements & Behavior: Spoke with her sister and others before her death, remained emotional yet hopeful about Max’s condition, and made no indication of suicidal intent.
Rebecca was known for her discipline, faith, and compassion. A devoted caregiver and fitness enthusiast, she maintained a healthy lifestyle and close family bonds. In the days before her death, she was grieving Max’s accident but remained optimistic — praying often and making plans to visit loved ones. Those close to her say the idea of suicide was completely out of character, describing her instead as strong, spiritual, and deeply grounded.
Jonah Shacknai
Mid-50s • Pharmaceutical Executive • Owner of the Spreckels Mansion
Connection: Rebecca’s boyfriend and father of Max; owner of the mansion where events occurred.
Timeline: Stayed at the hospital overnight with Max and was confirmed not to be at the mansion when Rebecca died.
Statements & Behavior: Publicly defended the official suicide ruling and expressed grief over both tragedies.
Public View: Seen as a grieving father by many, though some questioned his influence and emotional distance in the investigation.
While Jonah’s alibi was verified through hospital records, speculation around his relationship with Rebecca and his emotional state continues to fuel public curiosity.
Adam Shacknai
Brother of Jonah • Guesthouse Occupant
Connection: Jonah’s brother; the only person on the property during Rebecca’s death.
Timeline: Stayed in the guesthouse overnight; claimed he discovered Rebecca’s body around 6:45 AM.
Statements & Behavior: Told investigators he found her hanging, cut her down, attempted CPR, and denied involvement.
Public View: Portrayed as both the discoverer and a central figure of suspicion.
Despite being the last known person at the mansion before Rebecca’s death, Adam has always maintained innocence. His DNA was found on certain items, but he claimed it was from aiding her.
Max Shacknai
Age 6 • Son of Jonah and Dina
Connection: His fall two days prior is seen as the event that set the chain of tragedy in motion.
Timeline: Fell on July 11, 2011; hospitalized in critical condition and later passed away.
Many believe Max’s accident is inseparable from what happened to Rebecca. Whether it was a tragic coincidence or a catalyst for revenge remains a haunting question.
Dina Shacknai & Nina Romano
Dina – Max’s Mother / Jonah’s Ex • Nina – Twin Sister
Connection: Dina was Max’s mother and Jonah’s ex-wife; Nina was her twin sister named in civil filings.
Dina was verified to be at the hospital that night, while Nina’s phone and security records support her account of leaving before midnight. Still, their proximity to the scene—and strained relations with Rebecca—kept them under public scrutiny.
Mary Zahau-Loehner
Rebecca’s Sister • Family Advocate
Mary has been steadfast in her belief that Rebecca did not die by suicide. Her advocacy helped bring national attention back to the case, challenging investigators to reexamine overlooked evidence and inconsistencies.
Each of these individuals connects through one tragic week at the Spreckels Mansion—a timeline marked by confusion, grief, and questions that have yet to be fully answered.
The Night of Rebecca’s Death
The night of July 12, 2011, began quietly at the historic Spreckels Mansion in Coronado. Inside, 32-year-old Rebecca Zahau was the only person in the main house. Jonah was at the hospital with his son Max, who was in critical condition after a fall two days earlier. Jonah’s brother, Adam, was staying in the guesthouse, having flown in from Memphis to support the family. Rebecca spoke by phone with her sister Mary, sharing her concern but also her faith that things would improve. Before bed, she showered, cleaned up, and prepared to return to the hospital the next morning—small details that contradict the idea of suicidal intent.
Hours later, just before dawn, Adam claimed he found Rebecca hanging from a balcony, bound, gagged, and nude. His 911 call came at approximately 6:45 AM. Investigators labeled her death a suicide within days — a conclusion still widely disputed. The combination of missing DNA, unusual bindings, and staging questions continues to make this one of the most debated unsolved deaths in modern true crime history.
Theories and Evidence: Coming Next
In our next post, we’ll break down the evidence behind the leading theories. Rebecca’s body tells a complicated story — bindings that seemed impossible to tie alone, fingerprints and DNA in strange places, and a scene that raises far more questions than it answers. Each clue contradicts the official narrative and fuels the argument that this “open-and-shut” case might be anything but.
The Madness Meter Explained
🤬🤬🤬🤬☆ Madness— Rebecca Zahau’s case earns near-maximum points for chaos and contradiction. The deeper you dig, the less sense it makes. Between the bizarre staging, conflicting statements, and investigative oversights, it’s a web of confusion even seasoned sleuths struggle to untangle.
🕵️🕵️🕵️☆☆ Sleuthing — The investigation locked onto suicide early and refused to deviate. With Adam as the only person at the mansion, unanswered questions linger. For how much more digging this case demands? That’s a full 5/5 on curiosity.
⚡️⚡️☆☆☆ Intensity — On the surface, labeling the case a suicide dulls the perceived violence. But once you analyze the evidence, a far darker and more sinister narrative begins to take shape.
Continue the Investigation
Think you could do better than the investigators? Step into the mystery yourself with Murder at Mount Carlson — our interactive detective game that lets you examine real-style evidence, decode clues, and uncover hidden motives. Built for true crime fans who love to connect the dots and chase the truth, one clue at a time.
Try your hand at our Murder Mystery!