Rebecca Zahau was in the bathroom when she heard a bang.  It was July 11, 2011, and the 32-year-old was caring for six-year-old Max Shacknai, the son of her 54-year-old boyfriend, Jonah Shacknai.  Jonah was a millionaire and the CEO of a successful pharmaceutical group and Rebecca had been dating him for two years.

At first she thought the bang was a dog barking but when she ran towards it, she set off an unthinkable chain of events that would eventually lead to the loss of two innocent lives.

In this episode Jessie sits down with Derrick Levasseur, a retired police sergeant and licensed private investigator from Rhode Island in the United States.  Over the course of his career, Derrick has received multiple awards, including the Medal of Valor, which is the highest honour a police officer can receive. 

Derrick also researched the case of Rebecca Zahau, who was found hanging naked from the balcony of her boyfriend, Jonah’s, mansion in California 2011.

Her death would divide investigators and law enforcement.

CREDITS

Guest: Derrick Levasseur

Hotst: Jessie Stephens

Producer/Editor: Elise Cooper

CONTACT US

Tell us what you think of the show via email at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or on the PodPhone 02 8999 9386. 

Join our closed Facebook community to discuss this episode. Just search True Crime Conversations on Facebook or follow this link https://bit.ly/3982S5P 

RESEARCH
Breaking Homicide, hosted by Derrick Levasseur, Investigation Channel, Foxtel Australia https://bit.ly/2RWW5pY
ABC 10 NEWS USA Rebecca Zahau's boyfriend testifieshttps://bit.ly/2RY3ULT
NBC 7 San Diego “Adam Shacknai Answers "Did You Kill Rebecca Zahau?"  https://bit.ly/397e2YE
ABC 10 NEWS USA Coronado Mansion Deaths Ruled Accident & Suicide, https://bit.ly/2v6yUjQ

Rebecca Zahau was in the bathroom when she heard a bang.&nbsp; It was July 11, 2011, and the 32-year-old was caring for six-year-old Max Shacknai, the son of her 54-year-old boyfriend, Jonah Shacknai.&nbsp; Jonah was a millionaire and the CEO of a successful pharmaceutical group and Rebecca had been dating him for two years.
At first she thought the bang was a dog barking but when she ran towards it, she set off an unthinkable chain of events that would eventually lead to the loss of two innocent lives.
In this episode Jessie sits down with Derrick Levasseur, a retired police sergeant and licensed private investigator from Rhode Island in the United States.&nbsp; Over the course of his career, Derrick has received multiple awards, including the Medal of Valor, which is the highest honour a police officer can receive.&nbsp;
Derrick also researched the case of Rebecca Zahau, who was found hanging naked from the balcony of her boyfriend, Jonah&rsquo;s, mansion in California 2011.
Her death would divide investigators and law enforcement.
CREDITS
Guest: Derrick Levasseur
Hotst: Jessie Stephens
Producer/Editor: Elise Cooper
CONTACT US
Tell us what you think of the show via email at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or on the PodPhone 02 8999 9386.&nbsp;
Join our closed Facebook community to discuss this episode. Just search True Crime Conversations on Facebook or follow this link <a href="https://bit.ly/3982S5P">https://bit.ly/3982S5P</a>&nbsp;
RESEARCH
<ul>
<li>Breaking Homicide, hosted by Derrick Levasseur, Investigation Channel, Foxtel Australia <a href="https://bit.ly/2RWW5pY">https://bit.ly/2RWW5pY</a></li>
<li>ABC 10 NEWS USA <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c880qZ7sKKs">Rebecca Zahau's boyfriend testifies</a> <a href="https://bit.ly/2RY3ULT">https://bit.ly/2RY3ULT</a></li>
<li>NBC 7 San Diego &ldquo;Adam Shacknai Answers "Did You Kill Rebecca Zahau?"&nbsp; <a href="https://bit.ly/397e2YE">https://bit.ly/397e2YE</a></li>
<li>ABC 10 NEWS USA Coronado Mansion Deaths Ruled Accident &amp; Suicide, <a href="https://bit.ly/2v6yUjQ">https://bit.ly/2v6yUjQ</a></li>
</ul>

True Crime Conversations explores the world's most notorious crimes by speaking to the people who know the most about them.

True Crime Conversations explores the world's most notorious crimes by speaking to the people who know the most about them.

True Crime Conversations

True Crime Conversations explores the stories and the people behind some of the world’s most notorious crimes. 

True Crime Conversations explores the stories and the people behind some of the world’s most notorious crimes.

Perfect Murder Or Tragic Accident: What Happened To Rebecca Zahau

In May 1999, two detectives followed a trail of suspicious missing persons cases to an old, red-brick bank in Snowtown, South Australia. 

As they head inside, they head straight for the bank’s vault where they find six large plastic barrels containing human remains. They also find handcuffs, knives, a saw, boxes of disposable gloves and bottles of hydrochloric acid. 

They’d come to realise they'd found the dumping grounds of Australia’s worst serial killings, crimes that would see four men sent to prison with lengthy sentences. 

But now, 25 years later, two of these men could soon be eligible for release.

THE END BITS

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CREDITS

Guest: Jeremy Pudney

You can find more info about his book Snowtown: The Bodies in Barrels Murders here.

Host: Gemma Bath

Executive Producer: Gia Moylan

Audio Producer: Scott Stronach

The story is not the first time we've covered the Snowtown Murders. Hear our past episode with Debi Marshall here.

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note, and one of our Podcast Producers will come back to you ASAP.

Tell us what you really think so we can give you more of what you really want. Fill out this survey and you’ll go in the running to win one of five $100 gift vouchers.

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

In May 1999, two detectives followed a trail of suspicious missing persons cases to an old, red-brick bank in Snowtown, South Australia. 
As they head inside, they head straight for the bank’s vault where they find six large plastic barrels containing human remains. They also find handcuffs, knives, a saw, boxes of disposable gloves and bottles of hydrochloric acid. 
They’d come to realise they'd found the dumping grounds of Australia’s worst serial killings, crimes that would see four men sent to prison with lengthy sentences. 
But now, 25 years later, two of these men could soon be eligible for release.
THE END BITS
<a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/?utm_source=shownotes&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=tcc">Subscribe to Mamamia</a>
CREDITS<a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=53410X1291869&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fthe-good-girls-sonia-faleiro%2Fbook%2F9781408876732.html"></a>
Guest: Jeremy Pudney
You can find more info about his book Snowtown: The Bodies in Barrels Murders <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/sa/podcast/the-story-behind-snowtown/id1469153910?i=1000513440182">here</a>.
Host: Gemma Bath
Executive Producer: Gia Moylan
Audio Producer: Scott Stronach
The story is not the first time we've covered the Snowtown Murders. Hear our past episode with Debi Marshall <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/sa/podcast/the-story-behind-snowtown/id1469153910?i=1000513440182">here</a>.
GET IN TOUCH:
Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at <a href="mailto:truecrime@mamamia.com.au">truecrime@mamamia.com.au</a> or <a href="https://help.mamamia.com.au/en-US/send-a-podcast-voice-note-467960" data-stringify-link="https://help.mamamia.com.au/en-US/send-a-podcast-voice-note-467960" data-sk="tooltip_parent">send us a voice note</a>, and one of our Podcast Producers will come back to you ASAP.
Tell us what you really think so we can give you more of what you really want. Fill out <a href="https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7711442/Mamamia-Audience-Survey-March-April-2024" data-stringify-link="https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7711442/Mamamia-Audience-Survey-March-April-2024" data-sk="tooltip_parent">this survey</a> and you’ll go in the running to win one of five $100 gift vouchers.
If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via<a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/"> Lifeline</a> on 13 11 14 or<a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/"> Beyond Blue</a> on 1300 22 4636
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

The News Snowtown Victims Families Have Been Dreading

In May 2016, police arrived at a farmhouse in Hillier, north of Adelaide. The scene that awaited them was horrifying beyond words. 

Stephen Graham Peet had just murdered three people. The bodies of his girlfriend, Adeline Yvette Rigney-Wilson, and her two young children were inside. 

But as his crimes unravelled in court, something became clear. Those two little kids shouldn’t have died. Their deaths, at least, were preventable. It was a series of failures from government agencies designed to protect them that actually, left them in the path of a killer.

THE END BITS

Subscribe to Mamamia

CREDITS

Guest: Sean Fewster

You can listen to his podcast Just Lawful here.

Host: Gemma Bath

Executive Producer: Gia Moylan

Audio Producer: Scott Stronach

The story is not the first time we've covered systemic failures within domestic violence cases. If you found this episode interesting you might like to listen to one of these next:
The System That Failed Hannah Clarke
Six Deaths. One Uncomfortable Truth

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note, and one of our Podcast Producers will come back to you ASAP.

Tell us what you really think so we can give you more of what you really want. Fill out this survey and you’ll go in the running to win one of five $100 gift vouchers.

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

In May 2016, police arrived at a farmhouse in Hillier, north of Adelaide. The scene that awaited them was horrifying beyond words. 
Stephen Graham Peet had just murdered three people. The bodies of his girlfriend, Adeline Yvette Rigney-Wilson, and her two young children were inside. 
But as his crimes unravelled in court, something became clear. Those two little kids shouldn’t have died. Their deaths, at least, were preventable. It was a series of failures from government agencies designed to protect them that actually, left them in the path of a killer.
THE END BITS
<a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/?utm_source=shownotes&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=tcc">Subscribe to Mamamia</a>
CREDITS<a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=53410X1291869&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fthe-good-girls-sonia-faleiro%2Fbook%2F9781408876732.html"></a>
Guest: Sean Fewster
You can listen to his podcast Just Lawful <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/006-just-lawful-s01e06-hillier-triple-murders-pt-1/id1561705332?i=1000519767686">here</a>.
Host: Gemma Bath
Executive Producer: Gia Moylan
Audio Producer: Scott Stronach
The story is not the first time we've covered systemic failures within domestic violence cases. If you found this episode interesting you might like to listen to one of these next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-system-that-failed-hannah-clarke/id1469153910?i=1000556452765">The System That Failed Hannah Clarke</a></li>
<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/six-deaths-one-uncomfortable-truth/id1469153910?i=1000632626443">Six Deaths. One Uncomfortable Truth</a></li>
</ul>
GET IN TOUCH:
Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at <a href="mailto:truecrime@mamamia.com.au">truecrime@mamamia.com.au</a> or <a href="https://help.mamamia.com.au/en-US/send-a-podcast-voice-note-467960" data-stringify-link="https://help.mamamia.com.au/en-US/send-a-podcast-voice-note-467960" data-sk="tooltip_parent">send us a voice note</a>, and one of our Podcast Producers will come back to you ASAP.
Tell us what you really think so we can give you more of what you really want. Fill out <a href="https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7711442/Mamamia-Audience-Survey-March-April-2024" data-stringify-link="https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7711442/Mamamia-Audience-Survey-March-April-2024" data-sk="tooltip_parent">this survey</a> and you’ll go in the running to win one of five $100 gift vouchers.
If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via<a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/"> Lifeline</a> on 13 11 14 or<a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/"> Beyond Blue</a> on 1300 22 4636
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

A Triple Murder And A Broken System

On September 12, 1996, Keli Lane gave birth to a baby girl at Auburn Hospital in western Sydney. Two days later that baby seemingly disappeared. 

After years of investigation, Keli was convicted of her daughter's murder in 2010 and sentenced to 18 years behind bars. But did they get it wrong?

Keli Lane’s story has been compared to the wrongful conviction of Lindy Chamberlain. It’s been pulled apart and analysed for years.  

So is she a baby killer? Or is she a woman, misunderstood.

THE END BITS

Subscribe to Mamamia

CREDITS

Guest: Xanthe Mallett

You can listen to her podcast Motive And Method here.

Host: Gemma Bath

Executive Producer: Gia Moylan

Audio Producer: Scott Stronach

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au

Tell us what you really think so we can give you more of what you really want. Fill out this survey and you’ll go in the running to win one of five $100 gift vouchers.

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

On September 12, 1996, Keli Lane gave birth to a baby girl at Auburn Hospital in western Sydney. Two days later that baby seemingly disappeared. 
After years of investigation, Keli was convicted of her daughter's murder in 2010 and sentenced to 18 years behind bars. But did they get it wrong?
Keli Lane’s story has been compared to the wrongful conviction of Lindy Chamberlain. It’s been pulled apart and analysed for years.  
So is she a baby killer? Or is she a woman, misunderstood.
THE END BITS
<a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/?utm_source=shownotes&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=tcc">Subscribe to Mamamia</a>
CREDITS<a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=53410X1291869&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fthe-good-girls-sonia-faleiro%2Fbook%2F9781408876732.html"></a>
Guest: Xanthe Mallett<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/meet-the-frankes/id1726465829?i=1000645636907"></a>
You can listen to her podcast Motive And Method <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/allison-langdon-on-the-keli-lane-case/id1676882162?i=1000650075432">here</a>.
Host: Gemma Bath
Executive Producer: Gia Moylan
Audio Producer: Scott Stronach
GET IN TOUCH:
Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at <a href="mailto:truecrime@mamamia.com.au">truecrime@mamamia.com.au</a>  
Tell us what you really think so we can give you more of what you really want. Fill out <a href="https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7711442/Mamamia-Audience-Survey-March-April-2024" data-stringify-link="https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7711442/Mamamia-Audience-Survey-March-April-2024" data-sk="tooltip_parent">this survey</a> and you’ll go in the running to win one of five $100 gift vouchers.
If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via<a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/"> Lifeline</a> on 13 11 14 or<a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/"> Beyond Blue</a> on 1300 22 4636
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Perfect Murder Or Tragic Accident: What Happened To Rebecca Zahau

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