Crime & Safety

Shacknai Discusses Deaths of Loved Ones During Earnings Call

The Spreckels homeowner speaks out for the first time following the July losses of his son and girlfriend, as investigations continue.

UPDATED, 4:50 p.m.: See full text of Shacknai's opening remarks appended to this story.

Jonah Shacknai, who lost his son and girlfriend in separate incidents at the Spreckels mansion in July, hosted his company's quarterly earnings call Monday afternoon, and made his first direct public comments following the tragedies. 

He sounded composed and on point as he opened the 2:15 p.m. call about his Scottsdale, AZ-based company Medicis (NYSE:MRX) by devoting a little less than three minutes to the much publicized deaths of his son Max, 6, and girlfriend, Rebecca Zahau, 32. 

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Shacknai said he wanted to express “a personal note of appreciation” to shareholders, employees and customers for offering support following the deaths.

He didn't refer to his son—whose fall took place four weeks before the call—or his girlfriend by name, but said he had spent his time off with his surviving children and expected to soon return to his normal schedule at work “doing all the things I have done previously.”

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The call (which can be accessed online) continued for about an hour after Shacknai's personal remarks, and remained focused on earnings, shareholder issues and Medicis' products. Financial analysts who participated did not ask how the deaths might affect the company's prospects.

Zahau died two days after Max's July 11 fall down a staircase at Shacknai's vacation home. Investigators have yet to comment on her cause of death or even to declare whether or not it is a criminal matter.

She was found nude and bound on the Spreckels property. Shacknai's brother said she had been hanging from a second-story balcony. Investigators have said the brother was the only one at home with Zahau at the time of her death.

Max's death was announced four days after Zahau perished.

Shacknai's only other recent comments, about the death of his son and reports of violence in his now-dissolved marriage to Max's mother, were issued via statements released by his company and his public relations firm.

A San Diego Sheriff's homicide unit is investigating Zahau's death; no suspects or persons of interest have been named. They have offered few details of her death since an autopsy was completed July 14.

Coronado police are examining the boy's death and have said they believe it to be an accident.

Here's the text of Shacknai's personal remarks during Monday's call: 

Before I begin our discussion today, I want to express a personal note of appreciation. So many of our shareholders, as with our customers and employees, have provided me and our family wonderful encouragement and support. We've obviously had an extraordinarily difficult time. We have undertaken some tragedies, some losses, that one couldn't imagine experiencing in a lifetime, and the communications and emails, the notes of condolence, the warm wishes, the contributions to the Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation, that have been expressed both directly and through our investor relations team, are highly appreciated. I can't thank you enough for those and they are so meaningful. 

Over the past few weeks, I've obviously been spending time with family and loved ones. And during that time the company's day-to-day operations have continued without interruption. And the Medicis executive team, which I'm very proud to serve with, has moved forward executing against every one of our outlying objectives. I have been in touch daily with our colleagues at Medicis. I have obviously been briefed on all matters that are important and relevant to our business. And I have undertaken meetings particularly with our sales and marketing group, where I'd like to think I contribute a bit.

And I expect very quickly to return to the normal work schedule at the office. School commences momentarily in Arizona. At this time, I've really been with the kids, waiting for school to begin. But as soon as that happens, I expect to be on my my normal calendar in the office doing all the things I have done previously. 

Obviously at a time like this, one does a lot of introspective thinking and it makes me appreciate that much more, although I did already, how privileged I am to work with such a cohesive, capable and experienced executive team at Medicis and of course, a very, very strong and supportive board of directors. We have superb employees. They are dedicated, they are helpful, they have reached out to me in so many ways over the past few weeks. Our sales force, everyone has just been wonderful both in their expression of support and sentiment, and again, for this I am extremely grateful. 

So that having been said, I'd like to turn to our normal course of business, our second-quarter results. 


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