Zahau's sister, Mary, says the woman's family never thought for a minute that she would kill herself.
The sister of Rebecca Zahau says her family has known all along that she didn't kill herself, and harbors no malice against the man who has been found liable for her death.
"I forgive him because my sister would have," a weeping Mary Zahau told Inside Edition Thursday.
On Wednesday, a San Diego civil jury found Adam Shacknai responsible in the death of Rebecca, whose body was found hanging from a balcony in the Spreckles mansion.
The 2011 death was ruled a suicide by the medical examiner's office, but her family never believed it.
"Not for a moment," Mary said. "She loved life, she really did. And when she was taken away, it was almost like a part of us went missing."
The family was awarded $5 million in damages from its wrongful death lawsuit against Shacknai, the brother of Rebecca's millionaire boyfriend, Jonah.
Adam was the only other person at the sprawling estate when Rebecca's naked and bound body was found.
Just days before, Jonah's 6-year-old son, Max, fell from a second-story landing at the mansion. He later died. He had been in Rebecca's care the day he fell.
Adam denied having anything to do with Rebecca's death and authorities cleared him of being involved. His attorney has vowed to appeal the civil verdict.
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