Was Rebecca Zahau's Death Truly a Suicide Given the Circumstances?

In summary, the newly revealed details suggest that Rebecca Zahau was not only found naked, bound and hanging at the historic Spreckels mansion in Coronado; but she was also gagged with a T-shirt wrapped around her mouth and neck. This adds to the suspicion that her death was not a suicide, but a homicide.
  • #1
Newai
32
1
I prefer to give investigators the benefit of the doubt, always, but I'm having a really hard time going along with this one.

Beware that the link has a censored photo of the body from a distance in the air, and may upset some sensitive individuals.
CORONADO, Calif. (CBS8) -- Explosive new details contained in an autopsy report suggest Rebecca Zahau was not only found naked, bound and hanging at the historic Spreckels mansion in Coronado; but she was also gagged with a T-shirt wrapped around her mouth and neck.

"She had a reddish-orange rope ligature around her neck and a blue piece of fabric, possibly a shirt, around the neck outside of the ligature. A portion of this shirt was reportedly originally in the decedent's mouth," Deputy Medical Examiner Jonathan Lucas wrote in the autopsy report obtained by News 8.

The new revelations came just hours after the Medical Examiner and the San Diego Sheriff's department ruled the woman's death a suicide.

Zahau, 32, was found hanging from a second-story balcony on July 13 at the Ocean Blvd. home of her millionaire boyfriend, 54-year-old Jonah Shacknai.
http://www.cbs8.com/story/15388199/autopsy-rebecca-zahau-found-gagged-with-t-shirt-in-mouth

Who commits suicide by binding their wrists and ankles, gagged, and completely nude?
 
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  • #2
I was just reading this.

Investigators believe Zahau tied rope to bedposts and around her wrists and ankles. They think she loosely bound her wrists, took one arm out and put both arms behind her back before tightening the noose.

"We don't know exactly how this event occurred," sheriff's Sgt. Dave Nemeth said. "We don't know in what order things were done. The only person who can answer that question, unfortunately, is deceased."

http://news.yahoo.com/dna-led-suicide-ruling-calif-mansion-death-231512000.html;_ylt=AnSnRBBKTD4NyBtVbPi20MJVbBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTRocTlydXV1BGNjb2RlA2dtcHRvcDIwMHBvb2xyZXN0BG1pdANOZXdzIGZvciB5b3UEcGtnAzg3ODM0MGNhLTBkYzQtMzg2Yi04Zjc3LThiMjc4ZjM2NTU2YgRwb3MDMgRzZWMDbmV3c19mb3JfeW91BHZlcgM2MjRhZjc4MC1kNWQ3LTExZTAtYjhmYi03MzI2MzlmZjI1M2E-;_ylg=X3oDMTM1MWduNjVtBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDMjU4ZjEyMWEtYjljNC0zMTQ1LWFhNGEtMjdjOTkyOGNjMGQ5BHBzdGNhdAN3b3JsZHxldXJvcGUEcHQDc3RvcnlwYWdlBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3

Seriously? That could have easily been staged. Newai's article said she "rolled" off the balcony.
 
  • #3


While I can't imagine why a person would do it, I see no particular difficulty in her binding her own feet and stuffing a t-shirt in her own mouth. The bound hands are a little more difficult, but apparently, they weren't immobilized by the binding so it's not as if she couldn't possibly have done it herself.

It recently came to my attention that a brother of my grandmother was declared a suicide in 1941. I have a copy of the death certificate and it says that he died of carbon monoxide poisoning due to inhaling iluminating gas. What really caught my attention was the fact that there was no autopsy, just a coroner's examination. I think that if the facts of his case were known, it would blow the entire moon-landing, world trade center, Kennedy assasination, better tasting/less filling conspiracy wide open.
 
  • #4


Jimmy Snyder said:
While I can't imagine why a person would do it, I see no particular difficulty in her binding her own feet and stuffing a t-shirt in her own mouth. The bound hands are a little more difficult, but apparently, they weren't immobilized by the binding so it's not as if she couldn't possibly have done it herself.
What's odd about the writing on the door is that it wasn't in her handwriting, she left no suicide note. There is a possible motive, the boy's family might have believed her responsible for his *accident*.

It recently came to my attention that a brother of my grandmother was declared a suicide in 1941. I have a copy of the death certificate and it says that he died of carbon monoxide poisoning due to inhaling iluminating gas. What really caught my attention was the fact that there was no autopsy, just a coroner's examination. I think that if the facts of his case were known, it would blow the entire moon-landing, world trade center, Kennedy assasination, better tasting/less filling conspiracy wide open.
Wow, murder mystery?
 
  • #5


Her son (who had a similar fate) hadn't yet died, either. I don't think a death could be any more suspicious.
 
  • #6


Evo said:
Wow, murder mystery?
Most likely. The pertinent clues are these: He had money.
 
  • #7


murder mystery case :!) :blushing: :rolleyes:
 
  • #8


wow, the corruption is unbelievable. the sheriff should be investigated.
 
  • #9


I bet something very important is being held from the public and press. In my experience with these cases, when something seems hugely wrong and the police seem to be acting in utterly ridiculous ways, it comes out later that something was being held that would have compromised the case but makes the whole situation make sense.
 
  • #10


clearly it's murder, so either the cops are on the take, the coroner is an idiot, or they are trying to gather enough evidence to put the real culprit away. Let's hope it's the last...
 
  • #11


Zantra said:
clearly it's murder, so either the cops are on the take, the coroner is an idiot, or they are trying to gather enough evidence to put the real culprit away. Let's hope it's the last...
I have no doubt it's murder.
 
  • #12


Pengwuino said:
I bet something very important is being held from the public and press. In my experience with these cases, when something seems hugely wrong and the police seem to be acting in utterly ridiculous ways, it comes out later that something was being held that would have compromised the case but makes the whole situation make sense.

I thought they usually put pressure on the suspects to affect their behavior, that maybe they would do or say something hastily that would give them away.
 
  • #13


Newai said:
Who commits suicide by binding their wrists and ankles, gagged, and completely nude?


David Carradine? maybe this case is fishy, but self-bondage and autoerotic asphyxiation are pretty common.
 
  • #14


Newai said:
Who commits suicide by binding their wrists and ankles, gagged, and completely nude?
Who commits murder and makes it look like a suicide that looks like a murder?
 
  • #15


Jimmy Snyder said:
Who commits murder and makes it look like a suicide that looks like a murder?

Someone who is bad at making it look like a suicide?
 
  • #16


Here are more details about the case.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/03/officials-sure-bizarre-case-suicide-family-unconvi/"
 
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  • #17


Newai said:
Who commits suicide by binding their wrists and ankles, gagged, and completely nude?

I heard about this on the radio a while back. From what I remember she and her boyfriend had a rather abusive and chaotic relationship. Both of them called the police on each other frequently. The theory I heard was that she wanted to make it look like he had killed her to get one last vindictive stab at him. It was apparently part of their routine of abuse to try to get one another arrested.
 
  • #18


Jimmy Snyder said:
Here are more details about the case.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/03/officials-sure-bizarre-case-suicide-family-unconvi/"

the "kinder, gentler sex"... what rubbish :rolleyes:
 
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FAQ: Was Rebecca Zahau's Death Truly a Suicide Given the Circumstances?

What evidence led to the ruling of Rebecca Zahau's death as a suicide?

The evidence that led to the ruling of Rebecca Zahau's death as a suicide includes the presence of a suicide note, the lack of forced entry or struggle, and her history of depression and suicidal thoughts.

Why was Rebecca Zahau's body found bound and with a t-shirt stuffed in her mouth?

According to the investigators, Rebecca Zahau bound her own hands and feet and stuffed a t-shirt in her mouth as part of her suicide. This was supported by the fact that there were no signs of struggle or evidence of anyone else being involved in her death.

Were there any alternative theories considered in the investigation of Rebecca Zahau's death?

Yes, the investigation considered alternative theories such as murder or accidental death. However, after thorough examination of the evidence, the ruling of suicide was deemed the most likely cause of death.

Did the investigation find any suspicious circumstances surrounding Rebecca Zahau's death?

The investigation did not find any suspicious circumstances surrounding Rebecca Zahau's death. The ruling of suicide is supported by the evidence and there is no evidence to suggest foul play or any other alternative cause of death.

Are there any ongoing investigations or updates on the ruling of Rebecca Zahau's death?

No, there are no ongoing investigations or updates on the ruling of Rebecca Zahau's death. The case has been closed and the ruling of suicide stands as the cause of her death.

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