Mother of Shacknai Boy: One of Two People at Mansion Killed Him

The mother of the boy who died following a fall at the Spreckels mansion nearly two years ago took more direct aim this week at the two people she says are responsible for the child's death. Dina Shacknai, in an interview with KTAR.com, said either Rebecca Zahau, who died at the mansion two days after Max Shacknai's fall, killed her son, or the woman's younger sister, a minor, did so. “I think someone in the house that day killed Max and there were only two people there in the house, unfortunately Rebecca and her sister ... and one of them killed Max,” she told the station, which posted video of the interview on YouTube. Zahau and her sister, now a teen, were at the home in July 2011 when Max, 6, took the fall that led to his death. Zahau, 32, was found nude and bound at the mansion two days later. Previously, Shacknai has noted that Zahau and her sister were the only ones at the home, without specifically accusing one of them of being a killer. Both families question the results of the investigation into the deaths, have employed independent experts to examine the evidence, and have taken their cases to the media. Zahau's loved ones, while maintaining she was killed, have not named who they believe to be responsible for her death. Coronado police determined Max's death was due to an accidental fall, while the San Diego County Sheriff's Department called Zahau's death a suicide.  The cases have not been re-opened, despite formal requests from both camps. Jonah Shacknai, the boy's father, Dina's ex-husband and Zahau's boyfriend at the time of her death, has said he accepts the results of the investigations.  Shacknai was speaking to the station about the charity she launched in honor of her son's memory. Maxie's HOUSE supports the rights of parents in families that split custody and seeks legislation calling for mothers and fathers to share more information about the individuals they bring into their children's lives.