Associated Press

SAN DIEGO -- The 6-year-old son and the 32-year-old girlfriend of a prominent pharmaceutical executive have each died in a span of less than a week, and both deaths were tied to his historic mansion on the San Diego Bay.

Max Shacknai died Sunday at a hospital in San Diego almost a week after falling down the stairs at the mansion, Medicis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. chairman and chief executive Jonah Shacknai said in a statement along with ex-wife Dina Romano, the boy's mother.

The death came four days after his father's girlfriend, 32-year-old Rebecca Nalepa, had been found dead hanging from a balcony in the house, authorities said.

On Monday, Max fell down the stairs at the historic Spreckels mansion in Coronado in what police called a tragic accident. He was not breathing and did not have a pulse when paramedics found him and took him to Rady Children's hospital.

On Wednesday, officials said Shacknai's 32-year-old girlfriend, Rebecca Nalepa, was found dead hanging nude from a balcony at the mansion, her hands and feet bound. Shacknai's brother, Adam, who was staying in the mansion guesthouse, called to report Nalepa appeared to be dead, police said. Jonah Shacknai was not at home.

Sheriff's Capt. Tim Curran has called the death "very bizarre."