The case of the death of Rebecca Zahau is one of the San Diego, CA area's most notorious and mysterious deaths. Officially, Rebecca's death was ruled a suicide by San Diego County Deputy Medical Examiner Jonathan R. Lucas, but his opinion has been called into question by people all over the world, including renowned forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht.

Rebecca was found hanging by her neck from a small balcony on the second story of Spreckels Mansion in Coronado California, a summer home of her boyfriend, Jonah Shacknai. Her hands and feet were bound, her mouth was gagged, and she was completely naked.

Her family, not accepting that Rebecca committed suicide, successfully sued Adam Shacknai, Jonah's brother, for wrongful death. At the time of her death, Adam was reportedly the only other person at the mansion. he was staying in the guesthouse. Rebecca's family was awarded $5MM by a jury, but settled with Jonah Shacknai's insurance company for $600,000 after the verdict, apparently not wanting to go through the appeals process.

Rebecca's death occurred two days after Jonah Shacknai's son, Max, fell from an inside landing to the first floor below, eventually causing his death. His death has been ruled an accident, though that ruling has also been contested.