Historic Mansion Where Woman Died Sold To Investors

Max Shacknai Critically Injured, Rebecca Zahau Found Dead In Coronado Spreckels Mansion

Posted: 11/01/2011
Last Updated: 564 days ago

An historic Coronado home that was the scene of two deaths this summer has been sold to an investment group.

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10News learned the 103-year-old, 27-room Spreckels mansion was purchased by an unidentified group of investors at an undisclosed sale price.

Pharmaceuticals billionaire Jonah Shacknai bought the historic property on Ocean Boulevard in 2007 for $13 million, but its value was reassessed last year at $7 million.

In July, Shacknai's girlfriend, 32-year-old Rebecca Zahau, was found dead at the home -- a death San Diego County Sheriff's Department investigators later determined to be a suicide.

Two days before Zahau's death, Shacknai's six-year-old son, Max, was critically injured after falling down a grand staircase inside the home. Max died from his injuries several days later.

Zahau's family, however, disagreed with the sheriff's department's suicide conclusion, and last week, Rebecca Zahau's body was exhumed so famous forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht could perform another autopsy.

The results of Wecht's autopsy will be announced on a future episode of the "Dr. Phil Show."

A neighbor told 10News the sale of the mansion is good news, and noted that because an investment group now owns it, the home will be cared for until a buyer is found.

The neighbor said he has heard that the sale of the home by the investors will happen within the week.

The neighbor also told 10News the sale was important because it will begin the process of relegating a summer of tragic and widely publicized events to history.

Shacknai's realtor said his client has removed all of his personal property.

Copyright Do you have more information about this story? Click here to contact usCopyright 2011 by 10News.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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