San Diego Criminal Attorneys Blog
On July 11, 2011, the body of Rebecca Zahau was found bound with ties and hanging from a balcony at Spreckels mansion in Coronado. A message was also left on the outside of the mansion in black paint reading “She saved him. Can you save her.” Before she died, her boyfriend’s 6-year-old son fell and suffered fatal injuries while she was the only one there to watch him. Because of the overwhelming guilt she must have suffered, police ruled her death as a suicide; not explaining any of the eerie aspects of the crime scene. Zahau’s family, however, didn’t buy it – a wrongful death lawsuit was opened in July of 2013. According to the family, the ten million dollar lawsuit is to prove her death was the result of homicide, even going so far as to list suspects. In the files of the lawsuit the family named Zahau’s boyfriend’s brother, her boyfriend’s ex, and the ex’s sister. They believe on the morning of July 13, 2011, the three defendants came together and conspired a plan and made an agreement to murder Rebecca Zahau. The day before the murder took place, the two females involved confronted Zahau about the little boys death; attacking her with a blunt object and rendering her unconscious, supporting their capabilities of violence. The family of Zahau is desperate to prove Zahau suffered a wrongful death and that she was not depressed, suicidal, nor did she blame herself for the little boy’s death.
Sources:
“Amended Lawsuit: Rebecca Zahau Beaten, Strangled and Hung From A Balcony” – NBC 7 San Diego