Son of Medicis CEO dies, days after bizarre death of girlfriend

Son of Medicis CEO dies, days after bizarre death of girlfriend

2011-07-18 09:54:41 GMT+7 (ICT)

CORONADO, CALIFORNIA (BNO NEWS) -- Medicis Pharmaceutical CEO Jonah Shacknai on Sunday confirmed that his six-year-old son has died, just days after his girlfriend was found dead under bizarre circumstances.

Jonah's son, Max, was critically injured on Monday when he fell down the stairs at his father's home in Coronado, a resort city located in San Diego County. It happened just days before Jonah's girlfriend, 32-year-old Rebecca Nalepa, was found dead in the same mansion.

"With great sadness, Dina and I convey the tragic passing of our beloved son, Max (affectionately) known as Maxie)," Jonah wrote in an e-mailed statement. "Despite heroic efforts on the part of paramedics and hospital staff, he was unable to recover from the injuries suffered early last week. His loving, kind and vibrant spirit will forever be in our hearts and those whom he touched every day. The loss to our families, Max's many friends of all ages and teammates, and the community is immeasurable."

Few details about the fall on Monday have been released, although reports indicate Jonah was not at the home when the accident happened. It is believed that Max was in the care of Nalepa.

Nalepa was found dead on Wednesday morning after a 911 call was made by a relative of Jonah. "The reporting party, later identified as Adam Shacknai, told responding officers he found Nalepa with a rope around her neck and hanging from a balcony off the main house. When the Coronado units arrived at the scene, they located a female adult on the property who appeared to be deceased," Captain Tim Curran of the San Diego Sheriff's Department said earlier.

According to police, the condition of the victim and the scene itself showed suspicious circumstances that initiated the response of homicide investigators. "Because of the unique and bizarre circumstances of this incident, it has yet to be determined if this will become a criminal matter or a death investigation," Curran added.

"The victim's hands and feet were bound and she was completely nude," the spokesman said about Nalepa. Jonah has not spoken publicly about his girlfriend's death, and it remains unclear if he had any involvement.

According to Medicis' website, Shacknai founded the company in 1988 and remains as chairman and chief executive officer. His profile also says Shacknai served as chief aide to the House of Representatives' committee with responsibility for health policy, and in other senior legislative positions.

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