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Max Shacknai, the 6-year-old son of Medicis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. chairman and chief executive Jonah Shacknai, died Sunday nearly a week after falling from stairs inside his father's historic mansion on the San Diego Bay. Authorities called his death a tragic accident and say the boy had no pulse when paramedics found him last Monday.![Shacknaideath1]()
Two days after the child's fall, Shacknai's 32-year-old girlfriend, Rebecca Nalepa, left, was found nude, bound and hanging from a balcony at the home. Officials called Nalepa's death "very bizarre," and say they have yet to determine if it was a suicide or a homicide.![Shacknaideath6]()
The 27-room Spreckels mansion was built in 1908 in the wealthy seaside suburb of about 24,000 people on San Diego Bay. Jonah Shacknai, 54, who served as chairman and CEO of Scottsdale-based Medicis since 1988, lived there with Nalepa and his young son by a previous marriage.![Shacknaideath4]()
Shacknai's brother, Adam, who was staying in the mansion guesthouse, called to report Nalepa appeared to be dead early Wednesday morning, police said. Jonah Shacknai was not at home at the time of the 911 call.![Shacknaideath3]()
Sheriff's investigators said last week they have not established any connection between the two deaths, and have not determined if Nalepa was a crime victim and have made no arrests. They said they have not ruled out suicide.![Shacknaideath2]()
Adam Shacknai allegedly told authorities that he cut down Napela's unclothed body, which then fell into one of the mansion's courtyards![Shacknaideath5]()
Both brothers and Jonah Shacknai's ex-wife, Dina Shacknai, the boy's mother, are being questioned by detectives![Shacknaideath7]()
Coronado had just one homicide last year, and the police department asked the sheriff's department to help with the investigation.Mystery Surrounds Deaths of CEO's Son, Girlfriend Inside San Diego Mansion
The 6-year-old son of a prominent pharmaceutical executive died Sunday, almost a week after falling down the stairs at his family's mansion and four days after his father's girlfriend was found dead hanging from a balcony in the house.
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- Mystery Surrounds Deaths of CEO's Son, Girlfriend Inside San Diego Mansion
