Fatal Friends, Deadly Neighbors (31 page)

Becky Zahau was a beautiful Burmese woman, the girlfriend of an industry giant. She died far too young.

Jonah Shacknai’s innovative sense and business acumen made him a billionaire at a comparatively young age. He also suffered unbelievable tragedies.

Maxfield Shacknai was bright and loving, a little boy who was entranced with soccer. He suffered a mysterious accident in his father’s mansion in July 2011.

Although Dina Romano and Jonah Shacknai divorced, they shared a deep love for their son, Max.

Nina Romano was Dina’s twin sister, although they were not identical. One of them was outside the Spreckels Mansion the night Becky died.

Rebecca Zahau was born in Burma, but her family fled to Germany after her father was harassed for his religious beliefs. She came to America to be married, but it proved to be a sad mismatch. (
Zahau family
)

Mary Loehner and her sister Rebecca Zahau at the beach. Mary and her family are trying their best to find some kind of justice for “Becky.” They don’t believe she committed suicide. (
Zahau family
)

Becky Zahau and Jonah Shacknai had vastly different backgrounds but they seemed very happy together. She loved him—and
not
his money.

Adam Shacknai, Jonah’s younger brother, was a tugboat captain in Memphis, Tennessee. He rushed to his brother’s mansion as soon as their father called to tell him that Max had been critically injured. He was in the guesthouse of the mansion and Becky was in the main house on the night she perished. Adam called 911 and asked for help for her.

The front entrance to the Spreckels Mansion with police crime scene tape.

An aerial view of the Spreckels Mansion in Coronado, California, marking the main house and the smaller structures.

San Diego County sheriff’s investigators and Coronado police detectives walk along a driveway on the murder site’s grounds. Detective sergeant Angela Tsuida, in the center wearing tan slacks, was appointed to head the probe for the sheriff.

The lavish Spreckels Mansion was a Coronado showplace that once hosted the future Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.