Death on Ocean Boulevard: Inside the Coronado Mansion Case

Caitlin Rother

Apr 2021 · Citadel Press

About this ebook

“[This] is one of the great crime mysteries of modern times. It took an author of Caitlin Rother’s caliber to bring it into sharp focus. A riveting read.”
—Gregg Olsen, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“I got a girl, hung herself in the guest house.”
 
The call came on the morning of July 13, 2011, from the historic Spreckels Mansion, a lavish beachfront property in Coronado, California, owned by pharmaceutical tycoon and multimillionaire Jonah Shacknai. When authorities arrived, they found the naked body of Jonah’s girlfriend, Rebecca Zahau, gagged, her ankles tied and her wrists bound behind her. Jonah’s brother, Adam, claimed to have found Rebecca hanging by a rope from the second-floor balcony. On a bedroom door in black paint were the cryptic words:
 
SHE SAVED HIM CAN YOU SAVE HER.
 
Was this scrawled message a suicide note or a killer’s taunt? Rebecca’s death came two days after Jonah’s six-year-old son, Max, took a devastating fall while in Rebecca’s care. Authorities deemed Rebecca’s death a suicide resulting from her guilt. But who would stage either a suicide ora murder in such a bizarre, elaborate way?
 
Award-winning investigative journalist Caitlin Rother weaves stunning new details into a personal yet objective examination of the sensational case. She explores its many layers—including the civil suit in which a jury found Adam Shacknai responsible for Rebecca’s death, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department bombshell decision to reconfirm its original findings. As compelling as it is troubling, this controversial real-life mystery is a classic American tragedy that evokes the same haunting fascination as the JonBenet Ramsey and O.J. Simpson cases.

“Rother’s meticulous journalism shines through in this authoritative account of the Rebecca Zahau death incident. If you think you know this case, think again. And read this book.”
—Katherine Ramsland, professor of forensic psychology and author of The Psychology of Death Investigations



 

Ratings and reviews

one of the best true crime books I have read in a long time. I couldn't put it down, and didn't want it to end. This author did an exceptional job detailing this story. I followed this story from day 1 on WS. so when the book came upo as a suggestion that I might like to read I was ready to pass, but thought I'd read the sample and I was hooked That being said I was also a member of WS and replied to posts often. but it was this case that made me not post any more. Posters contacted the Zahua (sp) family to WS because they wanted to help them but actually they were just after the inside scoop, posting as their advocates but saying different in private forums. no one could post about suicide without being attacked. After reading this book i have thought of a possible meaning to the cryptic message on the door if shewas murdered but ok long enough.

This book just goes to show all the investigative TV shows don't tell you everything, this books delves so much more into everything that happened as well as the people involved in both tragedies that occurred at Spreckels Mansion. This book steps you through the lead up and aftermath of Rebecca and Max's deaths as well as the many layers and different turns the lives and investigation took which actually left me going from confident in regards to what I thought occurred from watching shows to feeling conflicted about almost everyone especially Rebecca after learning so much more about her past which is complex, along with Adam and how he acted then and since, then we have how the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department acted then and now which infuriated me. This is definitely a book where you can get the honest and hard facts that have been meticulously gathered and laid out for you to draw you own conclusion on, you are not swayed one way or the other into what is believed to have happened it is up to you. I also felt when added in the personal connection that the author has to the subject it gives everything a more personal feel and depth to it that makes you take note of actions and information so much more.

I really was not familiar with this case, guess I missed the TV shows, and I live on the East Coast, and life got in the way! That being said, the author presented the case, actually, almost as it unfolded. We get to know more that those who read about it, or listen to news reports. What an excellent job the author did in presenting this. Tragically, some facts may never be made know, and someone may get away with murder. I know reading this I was certain that I knew the answers, but with the help of Caitlin Rother we make headway, and find out about the trial. Even then, we have doubts, and keep reading! I admire how much work the author put into this book, and at times she had to really fight to get this information, including being harassed! I received this book through Net Galley and Kensington Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.

About the author

Caitlin Rother is a New York Times bestselling true crime author and Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist. She worked for nearly two decades as an investigative reporter and has had work published in Cosmopolitan, The Los Angeles Times, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and The Boston Globe, among others. As a TV crime commentator, she has done more than 200 media appearances on episodes of 20/20, People Magazine Investigates, Crime Watch Daily, Australia's World News, Nancy Grace, Snapped, and numerous shows on Netflix, Investigation Discovery, HLN, REELZ, Oxygen, E!, A&E, C-SPAN and various PBS affiliates. Rother also works as a writing/research coach and consultant, and plays piano and sings in an acoustic band. She lives in Southern California and can be found online at CaitlinRother.com.