Latest news with #BetsyArakawa
Daily Mail
13-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Poll: Why Santa Fe was crowned America's best city
A New Mexico city was rated the top in the US for its stunning views and good food, but it was recently involved in a horrific tragedy. Santa Fe, the state's capital, was rated number one of Travel and Leisure's 2025 best US travel destinations. The town of 89,000, known for its unique Spanish-style architecture and sand-colored buildings, scored an 88.80 out of 100 by 180,000 readers in the survey, beating out popular major cities like New York City, which ranked eighth. Readers loved the city's New Mexican cuisine, as well as its art galleries and markets. The city sits in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range and gets sunshine nearly all year round - a place readers called a 'true gem.' 'Every trip exceeds the last, with so many new things to discover,' one reader told the magazine. 'Santa Fe offers a multi-layer experience,' another said. However, the idyllic city was recently hit with a tragedy that has left many on edge. The 'best city' accolade comes as millions in the region have been warned to beware of Hantavirus - a deadly virus that recently claimed a notable resident's life. Actor Gene Hackman and his musician wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home in February. Police have since determined that Arakawa died first around February 12 as a result of respiratory symptoms caused by the virus, which is passed on through rodent urine, saliva and feces. She was 65. Hantavirus is a rare but severe respiratory illness spread through exposure, typically inhalation, to rodent droppings. A report obtained by Daily Mail indicated that Arakawa had bookmarks on her computer suggesting that she had been researching medical conditions with symptoms similar to COVID-19 or the flu prior to her death. Hackman also had trace amounts of acetone in his system at the time of his death, which could be a product of 'diabetic- and fasting-induced ketoacidosis.' Hackman, who was suffering from advanced Alzheimer's disease at the time, is believed to have wandered around the couple's home alone after his wife's death. Due to the advanced condition, he may not have ever realized his wife had died. The actor, who was 95, died nearly a week later around February 18, from severe heart disease, while Alzheimer's and kidney disease were contributing factors. Hackman tested negative for Hantavirus. Despite the tragedy, the New Mexico paradise beat out New Orleans, Louisiana, Charleston, South Carolina, Savannah, Georgia, and Alexandria, Virginia, which ranked in the top five. Mid-summer through the fall is a great time to visit the city for those who love wildflowers and hot temperatures, as it sits in the 80s and 90s. Winter is another great time to visit for those who love cold activities, like skiing. There are several art museums, including the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. O'Keeffe was a long-time resident of the area. It also has the Museum of Indian Art and Culture, the New Mexico History Museum, and the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art. It's also a hidden gem for spas, with some located around natural hot springs. Santa Fe also has plenty of hiking trails as its located in the mountains, many of them located along historic architectural sites. And the city is home to many luxurious hotels, including a Four Seasons.
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Gene Hackman's $80M estate is hit with a '6-figure credit card debt'... five months after his death
Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, reportedly racked up a massive debt before he died at the age of 95 in New Mexico in February. The Superman star - who is estimated to be worth about $80M - had almost $100K on his credit card, UsWeekly reported on Friday. According to court documents obtained by the site, the actor's estate was served with a claim by Citibank over money owed on a Mastercard. The bank demanded $98,345, according to paperwork filed July 1. It has also been claimed that Arakawa owes $4,329 on an account with Bank of America. The reported total for the claims comes to $102,675. Hackman had plenty of assets with his most notable being his sprawling New Mexico property that is worth between $3.8 million and $4 million. In March has learned that the sprawling Southwestern-style four bed room ranch sitting on a picturesque hill could fetch as much as $5 million when it finally goes on sale. 'The home is big, stylish and has great bones so there will be interest,' said an agent at Coldwell Banker. 'Even though two people passed away in the house, there will still be plenty of offers.' The agent added that anytime there is a celebrity linked to a property, it drives up the price, as is whether the home is bought in spring or summer summer. The home is also desired as it's within a gated community despite being on six acres of land, and offers generous views of the Rocky Mountains and is close to nature. Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead inside the home on Old Sunset Trail, Hyde Park, in February 2025. ' She believed Arakawa died on February 11 with Hackman passing on February 18. Extraordinary footage released by the Santa Fe County Sheriff on Tuesday shows a heartbroken German shepherd watching over the couple's bodies as deputies walked inside. The house, which was extensively remodeled in 1990, was cluttered with clothing, boxes, diapers and even dog cages when the couple died. It was also infested with rats. Their Pueblo revival home is far from Hollywood in an area renowned as a retreat for artists and celebrities wanting to escape the spotlight. Hackman, 95, died of heart disease with complications from Alzheimer's disease about a week after Arakawa, 65, died of hantavirus. The records detail some of Arakawa's last emails, phone calls and internet searches that appear to show she was looking for information on flu-like symptoms and breathing techniques. The documents and video recordings were released after a court ruled that most of them are public record but ordered that the couple's bodies would have to be blocked from view. Arakawa´s computer showed that between February 8 and the morning of February 12, she was researching medical conditions related to COVID-19 and flu-like symptoms, according to the records released by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office. In an email to her masseuse, she said Hackman woke up Feb. 11 with flu or cold-like symptoms and she'd have to reschedule her appointment for the next day. Her search history on the morning of Feb. 12 showed she was looking into a medical concierge service in Santa Fe. A call with the service lasted less than two minutes, and she missed a return call later that afternoon, according to investigators. 'Even though two people passed away in the house, there will still be plenty of offers,' added the real estate expert Initially, all photos, video and documents from the investigation were sealed by a temporary court order. Hackman appeared in a broad range of movie roles dating back to 1961, when he debuted in Mad Dog Coll. His roles included playing the arch nemesis Lex Luthor in the Superman movies and a coach finding redemption in the sentimental favorite Hoosiers. He was a five-time Oscar nominee who won best actor in a leading role for The French Connection in 1972 and best actor in a supporting role for Unforgiven two decades later. He retired in the early 2000s. Arakawa was born in Hawaii in December 1959 and grew up in Honolulu. She studied piano and, as an 11-year-old sixth grader, performed in youth concerts in front of thousands of students at the Honolulu International Center Concert Hall, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin reported in 1971. She attended the University of Southern California and was a cheerleader for the Aztecs, a professional soccer team in the North American Soccer League. The artist also worked as a production assistant on the television game show Card Sharks, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported in 1981. Betsy met Hackman while working part-time at a California gym in the mid-1980s. They soon moved in together and relocated to Santa Fe by the end of the decade. Arakawa was vice president of Pandora´s, a home decor and furnishing store in Santa Fe, according to New Mexico business records.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Yahoo
Gene Hackman's $80 Million Estate Hit With Demand Over Late Actor's Alleged 5-Figure Debt
The estates for late actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, are being hit with creditors' claims over alleged debt the couple left behind at the time of their deaths, Us Weekly can exclusively report. According to court documents obtained by Us, the legendary actor's estate was served with a claim by Citibank over money owed on a Mastercard. The bank demanded $98,345.29, per paperwork filed July 1. Around the same time, a claim was filed against Arakawa's estate over an alleged $4,329.75 owed on an account with Bank of total for the claims comes to $102,675.04. The Daily Mail reported Hackman's estate is worth an estimated $80 million. As Us previously reported, Hackman and Arakawa were found dead inside their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on February 26. Officials determined that Arakawa's death occurred one week before Hackman died. The chief medical examiner for New Mexico, Dr. Heather Jarrell, listed Arakawa's cause of death as 'natural' and due to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. She believed Arakawa died on February 11. Hackman is believed to have died on February 18. His cause of death was ruled to be hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease listed as a contributing factor. What to Know About Gene Hackman and Wife Betsy Arakawa's Death and Investigation The Sante Fe County Sheriff's Office confirmed the deaths to Us on February 27. 'On February 26, 2025, at approximately 1:45 p.m., Santa Fe County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to an address on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park where Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, and a dog were found deceased,' a rep for the sheriff's office told Us. 'Foul play is not suspected as a factor in those deaths at this time, however, [the] exact cause of death has not been determined.' A sheriff's report noted that officers found the two bodies, along with the couple's dogs in the home. Gene Hackman's Estate Asks to Block Release of Autopsy Records and Investigation Images The report stated, 'The front door of the residence unsecured and opened, deputies observed a healthy dog running loose on the property, another healthy dog near the deceased female, a deceased dog laying 10-15 feet from the deceased female in a closet of the bathroom, the heater being moved, the pill bottle being opened and pills scattered next to the female, the male decedent being located in a separate room of the residence, and no obvious signs of a gas leak.' The officer noted Arakawa's body was in a 'state of decomposition with bloating in her face and mummification in her hands and feet.' Gene Hackman and Wife Betsy Arakawa Laid to Rest Nearly 2 Months After Deaths: Report Following Hackman and Arakawa's deaths, the actor's daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie, and granddaughter Annie released a statement about the loss. 'He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss,' they said.
New York Post
09-07-2025
- Health
- New York Post
This once extremely rare disease caused by rats is on the rise — and is to blame for a very high-profile death
Rats! Health officials are reporting an increase in a rare but serious infectious disease spread by rodents — just four months after Gene Hackman's wife, the concert pianist Betsy Arakawa, died from it. A Grand Canyon National Park employee was recently exposed to hantavirus, with five cases logged so far this year in Arizona, KLAS-TV reported this week. Advertisement 3 Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, attend the Golden Globe Awards in 2003. The couple was found dead in their New Mexico home in February. AP Hundreds of miles away, an older woman was hospitalized last month with hantavirus, the summer's second confirmed case in the county south of Carson City, Nevada. It had been four years since that county, Douglas County, had recorded a case. 'The suspected exposure was from inhalation or direct contact with rodent droppings, urine or nesting material disturbed during household renovations in the weeks prior to symptom development,' Carson City Epidemiology Division Manager Dustin Boothe told local media. Advertisement In addition to inhaling particles from infected rodent poop, urine or nests or touching contaminated surfaces, humans can contract hantavirus from being bitten or scratched by a rodent carrying the virus. Contaminated food and water are also a concern. Deer mice are the most common carriers in the US, but they're not alone. Rice rats and cotton rats have been implicated in the Southeast and white-footed mice in the Northeast. 3 Deer mice (pictured here) are the most common hantavirus carriers in the US. silukstockimages – Virginia Tech researchers recently identified 15 rodent species as carriers. Advertisement Their findings were published in March in the Ecosphere journal. 'This project is timely because hantavirus is considered an emerging disease of pandemic potential with symptoms that resemble severe COVID-19 infections,' study co-author Paanwaris Paansri said at the time. The virus is not typically spread from person to person. Advertisement The disease often begins with flu-like symptoms like fever, fatigue and muscle aches and can rapidly progress to a severe respiratory illness marked by coughing, shortness of breath and fluid accumulation in the lungs. Treatment focuses on supportive care because there's no specific cure for the virus. Deaths occur nearly 40% of the time. It's unclear how many cases have been recorded across the country this year. Three people died of hantavirus in the rural California town of Mammoth Lakes in the spring, with the county's public health officer calling the deaths 'tragic and alarming.' 3 Hantavirus often begins with flu-like symptoms like fever, fatigue and muscle aches and can rapidly progress to a severe respiratory illness marked by coughing, shortness of breath and fluid accumulation in the lungs. Vladislav – There were 864 cases of hantavirus in the US between 1993 and 2022, the most recent data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New Mexico was hardest hit with 122 cases, followed by Colorado at 119. Advertisement Arakawa, 65, and Hackman, 95, were found dead in their New Mexico home on Feb. 26. New Mexico authorities believe that Arakawa died Feb. 12 and Hackman a few days later of heart disease, with Alzheimer's disease a contributing factor. Rat nests and dead rodents were found in several places on their Santa Fe property. Protecting yourself against hantavirus Advertisement Health officials at Edwards Air Force Base in California recently shared some tips to reduce hantavirus risk.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
New cases of rare rodent disease are increasing... experts warn it could be the next pandemic
Experts are sounding the alarm over the spread of a rare, deadly rodent virus that could be the next global pandemic. Health officials confirmed this week that an employee at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona had been exposed to hantavirus, a respiratory illness that spreads by inhaling airborne particles released by rodent droppings. The disease, which killed Gene Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa, is so rare in the US that only one or two people die every year, and there have only been around 1,000 cases in the past three decades. These cases are mostly among farmers, hikers and campers, and homeless populations. However, the virus has now been detected in five Arizona residents and four people in Nevada this year alone, suggesting cases could be on the rise. In 2024, there were seven confirmed cases and four deaths. The unnamed employee was reportedly exposed to hantavirus while working in the camp's mule pens, according to a Grand Canyon spokesperson. And earlier this year, three people in remote Mammoth Lakes, California, died of hantavirus despite not being 'engaged in activities typically associated with exposure,' according to state health officials. Though the park employee is expected to make a full recovery, hantavirus can lead to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), which causes the lungs to fill with fluid and kills up to 50 percent of patients. To reduce risk of exposure, health officials recommend airing out spaces where mice droppings could be, avoid sweeping droppings, use disinfectant and wipe up debris and wear gloves and a mask. Hantaviruses are a group of viruses found worldwide that are spread to people when they inhale aerosolized fecal matter, urine, or saliva from infected rodents. The disease was first identified in South Korea in 1978 when researchers isolated it from a field mouse. However, it only affects about 40 to 50 Americans each year, mostly in the southwest. Between 1993 and 2022, 864 cases have been confirmed, the latest available CDC data shows. Worldwide, there are about 150,000 to 200,000 cases per year, most of which are in China. The rarity of hantavirus in the US is partly because the country has fewer rodent species that the illness can circulate amongst, compared to Asia and Europe, where multiple rodent species act as hosts. In the US, deer mice are the most common carriers. David Quammen, a science writer whose book predicted the Covid-19 pandemic, previously told an increase in hantaviruses cases could have global implications. He said: '[Hantaviruses] were known from Korea originally, and then they turned up in the Four Corners area of the US back in 1992 and they started killing people. 'It wasn't surprising to find Hantaviruses in the US, as well as in Korea because, again, it's a global group of viruses.' Virginia Tech researchers recently found that while deer mice are still the primary reservoir for hantaviruses in North America, the virus is now circulating more widely than previously thought, with antibodies detected in six additional rodent species where they had not been documented before. Seventy-nine percent of positive blood samples they tested came from deer mice species, but researchers also found that other rodent species had a higher percentage of hantavirus infections than deer mice – between 4.3 and five percent. The vast majority of human cases are traced back to two or three key deer mouse species, but the study's findings reveal that the virus is more flexible than scientists once thought, broadening what they know about its basic biology. Virginia had the highest infection rate among rodents, with nearly eight percent of samples testing positive for hantavirus – four times the national average of around two percent. Colorado had the second-highest infection rate, followed by Texas, both known risk regions for the virus, with average positive blood samples more than twice as high as the national average. Hantavirus symptoms typically show up within one to eight weeks of exposure to infected rodents and include fatigue, fever, muscle aches, headache, dizziness, chills and abdominal or digestive issues. After four to 10 days of the early symptoms, patients may experience shortness of breath, chest tightness and fluid in the lungs. There is no specific treatment for hantavirus, and patients are instead given supportive therapies like rest, hydration, and breathing support.
