KTLA News12:43 p.m. CDT, July 19, 2011

CORONADO, Calif. (KTLA) — Authorities continue to investigate a possible link between the deaths of a multi-millionaire’s girlfriend and 6-year-old son at Spreckels Mansion in Coronado.

Police were called to the seaside home of of Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp founder and CEO Jonah Shacknai around 10 a.m. July 11 after his 6-year-old son, Max, was critically injured from what police said was reported as a fall from a staircase in the home, Coronado Police Chief Louis Scanlon said.

The boy later died of his injuries.

The family released the following statement Sunday night:

“With great sadness, Dina and I convey the tragic passing of our beloved son, Max (affectionately known as Maxie). 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.”

Max’s death is the second in less than a week at the mansion. Two days after Max’s injury, the body of his father’s 32-year-old girlfriend, Rebecca Nalepa, was found bound, nude and hanging from a second-story balcony overlooking the courtyard. Shacknai’s brother, Adam, a resident of a guest house on the property, found Nalepa, according to Captain Tim Curran of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department homicide squad.

Adam Shacknai alerted authorities by calling emergency 911 and cut down the unclothed body, which then fell into the courtyard, Curran said at a news conference Thursday.

Shacknai was not present in either case when authorities responded to the residence. When Shacknai’s son fell, authorities say they found only the injured boy and Nalepa at the home.

Both brothers and Jonah Shacknai’s ex-wife, Dina Shacknai, the mother of his 6-year-old son, were being questioned as witnesses in the investigation and were cooperating with detectives, Curran said.

Investigators say Nalepa and an unidentified 13-year-old were the only people home when Max was injured.

Authorities declined to discuss Jonah Shacknai’s current whereabouts.

The Arizona Republic newspaper cited his former mother-in-law, Nancy Romano, as saying Jonah and Dina Shacknai had been with their son since he was hospitalized.

Curran said no one has been detained or was considered a suspect in the case, which investigators have not so far labeled as the result of foul play even though Nalepa was found with her hands tied behind her back and her feet also bound.

Curran said investigators have not ruled out suicide.

“Because of the unique and bizarre circumstances, it has yet to be determined whether this is a homicide or a suspicious death,” Curran told reporters. “This is a very bizarre death. There is no doubt about it.”

KSWB-TV is reporting that Nalepa was distraught and crying when she turned her dog over to a kennel hours before she was found dead. Her autopsy results have been sealed and toxicology results were pending. A determination on her cause of death could be made later this week.

A homicide detective tells the station that the deaths may be connected, but declined to elaborate.

Court records show Jonah and Dina Shacknai, his second wife, had their divorce finalized in January of this year, though Romano told the Arizona Republic that her former son-in-law and Nalepa had been together for about two years.

Nalepa, who was herself divorced in February, had her maiden surname of Zahau legally restored in May, according to court records in Arizona.

Medicis issued a brief statement on the incident without giving details.

“The Medicis family is deeply saddened to learn of a tragic incident at a California property owned by Jonah Shacknai,” the company said. “Our thoughts are with Jonah and his family and ask that the family’s privacy be respected during this difficult period.”

Land records show that Shacknai, 54, whose Scottsdale, Arizona-based company is maker of the acne treatment Solodyn and wrinkle-filler Restylane, purchased the 27-room landmark property known as the Spreckels Mansion in October 2010.

Shares of the company, which reported 2010 revenues of $700 million, tumbled by as much as 5 percent following news of the investigation.

Dude, when you find a nude body hanging from a balcony with feet and hands bound – you can pretty much rule out suicide… don’t women choose sleeping pills to bite the big one?