BBM.
Totally agree, justice. And I'd also like to know what renovations were made to the home before Jonah put it up "faux sale" and then bought it from himself.
I remember being absolutely infuriated that he was able to so quickly and easily renovate the murder scene, thereby insuring the disappearance of any and all remaining evidence (not that SDSO was interested in any of it). It went hand-in-hand with the entire tone of the "investigation" into Rebecca's death.
However, what they didn't seem to count on was that their efforts were entirely transparent to anyone who was paying even a casual amount of attention. JS, the SDSO, etc. were remarkably brazen in flaunting their mission to turn RZ's death into a quickie suicide and make all evidence to the contrary go away.
Like you, I would love to see people beyond the defendants in the WDS brought to justice.
Regarding Spreckels, from 2007 when JS first bought it, until 2010, JS had to continuously lobby the historic commission and the city council to get approvals and permits to renovate the historic property.
This is from a CNN transcript of Mayor Casey Tanaka on the Dr. Drew show, discussing JS's persistence at obtaining renovation permissions from roughly 2007-2010, finally getting all the approvals worked out in Feb 2011--just a few months before the deaths of Max and Rebecca:
Dr. Drew - 7/20/2011
PINSKY: We are back with CNN reporter, Sandra Endo. Also, criminal defense attorney, Mark Eiglarsh is still with me. And I`m joined by the sister of Nicole Brown Simpson, Tanya Brown. In addition, we`ve just been joined by the mayor of Coronado, California, Casey Tanaka. So, let me start with you, Casey. You knew both Rebecca and Jonah. Can you tell us about them as a couple?
VOICE OF MAYOR CASEY TANAKA, CORONADO, CA: No. I only knew Jonah, and I knew Jonah because his home was designated historic in Coronado in 2006. And he became the owner around 2007. And he had been involved in a permitting process to make changes or at least to attempt to, to that historic home. So, I only knew Jonah.
PINSKY: And can you tell us about him? What kind of guy he was and what you learned about him?
TANAKA: Well, I think he -- I found him to be a very patient and rational person. That the red tape that one associates with trying to get a permitting done of an alteration permit for his historic home, it was kind of an arduous process for him. And at many points along the way, our commissions or even the city council itself had denied requests that he had made, and he was very constructive in terms of taking that criticism, changing his plans,
and finally, in February of this year, he succeeded at getting his approvals that he was seeking.
So, I was very impressed with the way he handled himself. He didn`t threaten lawsuits. He didn`t try to throw his weight around. And he really took our critiques to heart. So, I was very impressed by that.
PINSKY: And it`s not as though neighbors were complaining about him or he was, you know, a suspected individual? In the community, he was just another member of the island?
TANAKA: The only complaints I had heard had been with regard to the changes he is proposing to his house. He want a second-story addition, and he had made a proposal to try and open his roof up so that it would become a more habitable space.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIP.../ddhln.01.html
http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...-pleads-case-to-Council&p=8374362#post8374362
There was a document on the web with all of the renovations Jonah was requesting 2007-10 that was literally more than 100 pages in length-- quite extensive, indoors and out.
And some of the vociferous criticism of those requests to renovate: (remember-- this is the criticism of the renovations planned BEFORE Max and Rebecca's deaths)
http://www.sohosandiego.org/endangered/mel2009/spreckels.htm
A proposed, thoroughly unnecessary, façade remodel to the John D. Spreckels "Beach Cottage" Residence threatens one of Coronado's most important, most prominent and most intact historic residences. If the butchering is allowed to proceed, not only will it ruin a local architectural icon, it will set a dangerous and irreversible precedent that will open the floodgates for literally any alteration to any historic resource within the city. Aside from an early 1911 addition, the 1908 Harrison Albright-designed masterpiece at 1043 Ocean Blvd. has so far remained unaltered.
The building benefits from a property tax-saving Mills Act Contract which legally obliges the owner to preserve the home's historic integrity. Without regard for its highly acclaimed architecture, the proposed redesign will have a major visual impact on the primary elevation with numerous alterations including a large central dormer and deck addition to the spectacular character-defining broad hipped Spanish tiled roof, the addition of several new front balconies, and multiple window and door replacements. These changes do not conform to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards or honor the spirit of the Mills Act, but in an incomprehensible split 3-2 vote, the City of Coronado Historic Resource Commission approved the desecration of one of the city's most unique and irreplaceable historic resources. Their decision has been since sent to the City Council on appeal.
SAVED - The city council denied the project for inappropriate remodeling, although this will likely come up again, for now it is safe.
So, yes, the fact that such massive and extensive renovations to the property were so swiftly approved
AFTER Max and Rebecca's deaths, smack of multi-layer influence peddling.
IMO, it seems there was a co-dependent need by both JS and the various councils and historic commissions, to do "something" to make the property valuable again to the island, and to JS. Valuable to the city historians and locals in the sense that it could once again be more than just a "murder mansion" tourist attraction. After all, it is quite close to the Hotel Del, and one of the most historic properties, and the controversy over Rebecca's death/ murder investigation, in particular, was not good for the wholesome reputation of Coronado Island. Max's accidental death was widely seen as tragic and sad, but Rebecca's very gruesome death really rocked the community, IMO. Nearly everyone was shocked at the suicide ruling-- but IMO, it was the only way for "everyone" (except Rebecca's family) to move beyond the twin tragedies.
Jonah is, IMO, above all things, a pragmatic businessman, and a consummate realist. He knows when to "hold 'em, when to fold 'em, when to walk away, and when to run." The entanglement of his brother in Rebecca's death, and the specter of the possibility of his teens' presence or involvement in Max's accident, forced him to make decisions and move on. Nothing was going to bring back either Max or Rebecca, so it was time to do what he could to mitigate the situation financially and otherwise.
Clearly, he was quite persuasive and successful in quickly obtaining all the permissions and permits to essentially gut the mansion, and start over.
And equally clearly, he knows quite well how to stay out of the media, and deflect controversy. IMO, his influence is a fairly well concealed, but commanding presence in quite a bit of all of this. As we get closer to trial, I won't be at all surprised to see his influence bubbling up again.
I think it's extremely likely that Adam (with Jonah's help) will settle his part in this before trial. I don't see Dina or Nina settling, or even really having the means to do so-- and I don't get the sense that Jonah will be willing help those two. JMO. Apart from his brother Adam's part, I don't think Jonah really cares what happens to the other two, or what they choose to do. He'll leave the twins twisting in the breeze, IMO. But-- if/ when they start to throw Adam under the bus, I think Jonah will act swiftly to shut that down (as in, push to settle Adam's part of the case). JMO. Jonah is tremendously loyal to his kids, and his blood family, IMO.