Death on Ocean Boulevard

Inside the Coronado Mansion Case

By: Caitlin Rother

Narrated by: Rachel Perry

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 or a 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. 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.

©2021 Caitlin Rother (P)2021 Tantor

Death On Ocean Boulevard

I was very interested in this book because, as a San Diego resident, have been hearing about this case from day one and was glad this book came out and provides the explanations of the procedural aspects of CSIs and other investigators, and I believe is well researched. I hope this story helps bring out the reality of this terrible incident.

Narrator is awful

The story is interesting but the narrator ruined it for me. It’s a shame. Her tone was strange and inappropriate for the topic and she had a strange way of breaking up sentences. Hard to describe but she doesn’t just read the sentence, she stops and starts mid sentence.

intriguing story

The story was very informative & kept you on your toes throughout. very disturbing that the killer was never discovered or if it was truly suicide.

Well-presented facts

Well written, fairly objective writing on an unusual tragic incident.

I feel for Rebecca’s family and the lack of transparency and support they’ve gotten from law enforcement. It is very frustrating this case hasn’t been re-opened given all the new nuances found. If law enforcement is secure in their findings, they should have no problem vetting them against new information. Whatever the truth is, disregarding the scientific process does not garner trust from the public.

Rest in Peace Rebecca and Max.

Great research

I have been intrigued by this case for years and when I found this book, I knew I had to dive in immediately. I learned so much I did not know - it was an excellent book that left me with more questions/thoughts about what actually did happen on that night. I’m still not sure what I believe, but to me- two things stick out in my mind.
1. It feels like whoever painted the message wasn’t trying to stage a suicide, because of the tone to the message. I think that once the police made up their mind that it was not a homicide, the real killer was probably surprised- as they had not intended on the police thinking Rebecca did it herself. In this situation, I think Adam is the most likely suspect.
2. I struggle to find a situation that makes sense in which Rebecca actually wrote the message prior to killing herself - only one other theory sticks out to me. If the situation I mentioned above in my first point did not occur, the next plausible situation that I have heard from all the theories is actually the one mentioned by the main suspect’s girlfriend, Mary. She believes that Rebecca wrote the message herself prior to her suicide so that Jonah would THINK she was murdered, so she could die a hero - but there are holes in this theory too… if Rebecca came up with this scheme, she would surely have to think through WHO could possibly be this mysterious killer that knows about Max’s fall - and that Rebecca “saved” him, only to come back and take her life also? If she did come up with the scheme, I would think she would realize that that all is very far-fetched.

Overall, great book and I’m very glad I took the time to listen to it!

Very thorough research and a great read.

Just a really good read! It's obvious this author takes her work seriously.Puts forth the effort to thoroughly investigate, keeping facts, as well as reaching out tp all those involved, in context. Really good!

HOW Rebecca died

i couldn't wait to be done withtjus book! The narrator did NOT DO THIS STORY ANY FAVORS! Her emphasis on words was grammaticaly awful!

Did She or Didn’t She

Well narrated, interesting topic, plenty of action and a curiosity among the cast of characters!

Spreckels Mansion

Interesting as my Granddaughter & I had stayed there in early 2000 while visiting del Coronado hotel…they had no room available so they sent us to the Mansion across

Awful narration

Narrator is terrible but such a good story once you get over the narration fault