The San Diego County Sheriff's Department's homicide unit is investigating the "bizarre" death of the girlfriend of a Scottsdale business executive at his Coronado, California mansion yesterday. However, the SDSD says, pharmaceutical tycoon Jonah Shacknai was not at the home when the woman died.
Just before 7 a.m. yesterday, police received a call that a woman was possibly dead at Shacknai's home. The body of 32-year-old Rebecca Nalepa -- Shacknai's girlfriend -- was later found in the courtyard of the historic Coronado mansion with a rope around her neck, and hanging from a balcony.
Aerial video taken above the home showed Nalepa's naked body lying on her back. Her feet and wrists appeared to be bound.
Police aren't releasing much information about the death and wouldn't tell New Times who called 9-1-1.
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Shacknai has been the chairman and chief executive officer of the Scottsdale based Medicis pharmaceutical company since 1988.
Medicis sells the acne drug Solodyn and cosmetic products like Restylane and the botulinum toxin Dysport, a Botox competitor.
"The Medicis family is deeply saddened to learn of a tragic incident at a California property owned by Jonah Shacknai," the company says in a statement. "Our thoughts are with Jonah and his family and (we) ask that the family's privacy be respected during this difficult period. At this time, the company has no further comment."
The SDSD tells New Times more information about the death investigation will be available later today.
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