Gene Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa Googled flu and Covid symptoms
Betsy Arakawa, the wife of actor Gene Hackman, searched the internet for information about flu and Covid symptoms and breathing techniques in the days before she died, police records have revealed.Arakawa asked Google questions including whether Covid could cause dizziness or nosebleeds, according to files released by the Santa Fe Sheriff and reported by the Associated Press and New York Times.The 65-year-old pianist died of hantavirus, which can cause flu-like symptoms and develop into a life-threatening lung condition.Authorities believe she died around 12 February, and her husband, 95, who had Alzheimer's disease, died on 18 February. Their bodies were found on 26 February.
The Sheriff files include details of the police investigation along with photos of the couple's cluttered house in New Mexico, and bodycam footage.They show that on 10 February, Arakawa searched online for "can Covid cause dizziness?" and "Flu and nosebleeds".The following day, she emailed her massage therapist to cancel an appointment, saying her husband had woken up with "flu/cold-like symptoms" but had tested negative for Covid.She also ordered oxygen canisters from Amazon for "respiratory support".Police have previously said Arakawa made multiple calls to a health clinic on 12 February for medical treatment, which she never received.She was found to have contracted hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare respiratory illness carried by rodents. Nests and some dead rodents were found in outbuildings of the couple's house.Authorities believe Hackman died on 18 February - the date of his last recorded pacemaker activity, which showed an abnormal rhythm of atrial fibrillation.His cause of death was severe heart disease, with advanced Alzheimer's disease listed as a contributing factor. Experts believe the Oscar-winning actor's Alzheimer's may have prevented him from realising his wife of more than 30 years was dead in the home where he was living.Their bodies were discovered more than a week later by neighbourhood security.One of the couple's three dogs, which had been in a crate while recovering from surgery, died from starvation and dehydration.The couple's children had tried to block the release of the latest sheriff's records by Santa Fe County, but news organisations challenged that under New Mexico's freedom of information laws."The New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) placed the County in a difficult position," said County manager Gregory S Shaffer."On the one hand, we deeply understand the family's need for privacy during this painful time."On the other, the County has a duty to follow the law and faced potential lawsuits, damages, and attorney's fees under IPRA if we withheld the records."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Woman tortured and raped by evil ex for 13 years finally escaped after meeting kind stranger
Michael Christie terrorised Emma Louise Goddard after meeting her when she was just 15-years-old. A woman who was raped and tortured by her sick ex during his 13-year reign of terror finally escaped after breaking down to a stranger in the street. Vile Michael Christie, 52, brutally attacked Emma Goddard, 36, for over a decade before she found the courage to leave him. The mum said she had "accepted" the abuse as part of her daily life until a kind local woman asked her about her black eyes. Speaking to the Record, Emma-Louise revealed the chance encounter led to the woman persuading her to phone the police. She said: "The abuse had been going on so long that I was just going through the motions. I has accepted it as part of my life. "But a woman stopped me in the street one day after noticing my black eyes and asked me if I was okay. "I guess I was just ready to open up. I told her everything and handed me her phone so I could call the police and woman's aid. "He was arrested that night." Speaking on her horror ordeal at the hands of Evil Christie, Emma-Louise said: "I was just a teenager when I met him. He made sure I was very quickly estranged from my friends and family as he took control of my life. Then he started the sexual and physical abuse. "He would rape me when I was sleeping and then continue doing so when I woke up. "He was constantly attacking me and the neighbours would hear and phone the police but he had me under his spell and I never said anything when they arrived." "I was completely terrified and so isolated that I just felt powerless." Emma-Louise suffered a broken collar-bone, fingers and toes at Christie's hands but said two episodes of abuse terrified her more than any others - when she was locked up and separately subjected to a torture method known as waterboarding. She continued: "We were living in a flat in Clydebank in the winter of 2010, but he got some work in Thurso cutting down Christmas trees. "So he decided to lock me up for four days and he wouldn't let me have a phone, so I was trapped in there. "I didn't have much food and was completely terrified. If I had some sort of medical emergency I would have had no way of getting help. "Another day in 2014, he attacked me and I was sure he was going to kill me. "He used handcuffs to chain me to a radiator in the bathroom and stuck a towel over my face and poured water over it. "I've since learned this is called waterboarding. At the time, I thought I was about to die." Emma-Louise said Christie would even force her to move to different addresses when neighbours noticed something was wrong to avoid attention of the cops. But after he was arrested, Emma-Louise faced an agonising wait for justice due to delays in the case going to court amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. Christie was finally found guilty in April this year after a trial in Glasgow where he was convicted of multiple rapes and assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement between 2003 and 2016. The brute was sentenced to 16 years in i n prison on May 12. Reacting to the sentence, Emma-Louise said: "It took a long time for him to be convicted but thankfully he was given a long sentence by the courts. "But the ordeal he put me through was far more punishing and I need to live with the trauma for the rest of my life. "People like him don't care about the consequences of their actions, but I hope any women reading this who are being abused realise that it just takes one phone call - like the one I made the day I met that woman - and everything can change." Detective Chief Inspector Jennifer McCulloch, of Ayrshire CID said: 'We acknowledge the sentencing of Christie, who will now face the consequences of actions. 'We remain committed to thoroughly investigating those responsible for these types of crimes and bringing them to justice. 'Any form of sexual abuse is a serious criminal offence and is a priority for Police Scotland. We encourage anyone with concerns about abuse, or a potential victim, to contact police immediately.'
Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Man who was on sperm donor TV show ‘raped partner when she tried to dump him', court told
The court was told the pair had dated until November 2022 but the woman got fed up with Kennedy allegedly slapping and kicking her TRIAL CLAIM Man who was on sperm donor TV show 'raped partner when she tried to dump him', court told Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAN who was in a TV show called Britain's Super Sperm Donors raped his partner when she tried to dump him, a court was told. The woman, 23, said Mitchell Kennedy, 42, told her he'd be going away to help another female get pregnant. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Mitchell Kennedy is accused of raping his partner after she tried to dump him 2 Kennedy is on trial at the High Court in Aberdeen Credit: PA But she claimed he attacked her after she invited him round to her flat in Aberdeen so she could break up with him. She said Kennedy pinned her against a wardrobe before he stripped her naked then took his own clothes off. The woman told the city's High Court: 'He started to kiss me on my neck and on the top of my chest. 'He picked me up and took me to the bed. He ended up on top of me. I didn't want that. 'I told him 'No' multiple times. He didn't say anything at all. He just kept going.' The woman testified she met Kennedy on social media. But his online profile said he was 30 when he was really 38. She said in a video interview: 'He didn't tell me his real age. I found that through Google.' The court was told the pair had dated until November 2022 but the woman got fed up with Kennedy allegedly slapping and kicking her. She said: 'He is a sperm donor. He was talking about where he was going next. Lyons family insist rival Daniel crew had NOTHING to do with Spain shootings "He was going away to donate to someone in a few days' time.' Kennedy had appeared in the Channel 4 documentary in 2018. The woman alleged he raped her for up to 15 minutes. She told jurors her cousin phoned while she was in the toilet, cleaning herself up. The woman testified: 'I threw Mitch's clothes at him. I said you have to leave now. 'He just laughed. He eventually dressed very slowly.' She said she spoke to pals who were waiting outside her flat. The woman claimed: 'I said Mitch had raped me.' Her pals helped her put her bedding and clothes in black bags in case she wanted to go to the cops, the court heard, and she reported the alleged incident the following day. Mitchell denies rape plus physically and verbally abusing his ex-girlfriend between July 2021 and November 2022. The trial continues before Judge Graham Buchanan.
Wales Online
9 hours ago
- Wales Online
New Covid strain with 'unusual' symptoms identified as cases surge
New Covid strain with 'unusual' symptoms identified as cases surge The new Covid variant, labelled NB.1.8.1, is causing unusual gastrointestinal problems, health officials have warned The new strain of Covid is the result of two variants combining (Image: Getty Images/Westend61 ) Health authorities have issued an alert regarding a new strain of coronavirus after a surge in cases. Residents in Ireland are being advised to self-isolate for two days if they exhibit any Covid symptoms, as the new variant - which presents with unusual symptoms - is also linked to gastrointestinal issues. The variant, known as NB.1.8.1, has already been identified in the UK, US and Australia. Specialists emphasised that while previous strains have been associated with flu-like symptoms, NB. 1.8.1 can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and heartburn. Patients experiencing bloating, constipation and abdominal pain could also be suffering from Covid-19, reports the Mirror. The World Health Organization (WHO) has added the variant to its official watch list, suggesting it may be more transmissible than other strains. However, there's no evidence yet to suggest it leads to more severe illness. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . According to WHO, the strain first emerged in January and by late April it accounted for approximately 10.7% of global infections, a significant increase from just 2.5% a month earlier. The variant has also been identified in renowned holiday destinations such as Thailand, Egypt, and the Maldives. It has rapidly become the prevailing strain in some Asian regions, including China and Hong Kong. Article continues below Dr Lara Herrero, an Associate Professor and Virology Research Leader at Griffith University, shared details about the symptoms: "Common symptoms [of NB.1.8.1] include sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, muscle aches and nasal congestion. Gastrointestinal symptoms may also occur in some cases."
