Beloved knuckleballer Tim Wakefield dies at 57, Red Sox teammates pay tribute: 'Our hearts are broken'



The baseball world mourned the unexpected death of former Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Tim Wakefield. The noteworthy knuckleballer died on Sunday morning at age 57, according to multiple reports.

The MLB reported that Wakefield died from brain cancer.

Wakefield is survived by his wife, Stacy, and their children, Trevor and Brianna.

Stacy Wakefield is battling pancreatic cancer, according to Tim's former teammate Curt Schilling.

"This is not a message that Tim has asked anyone to share, and I don’t even know if he wants it shared, but as a Christian, and as a man of faith, I have seen prayer work, so I am going to talk about it," Schilling said on his podcast on Wednesday. "Tim’s wife Stacy, who is one of the nicest women you’ll ever meet, is very sick with pancreatic cancer. Recently, Tim was diagnosed with a very serious, a very aggressive form of brain cancer."

Tributes poured in for the beloved pitcher as former teammates reacted to Wakefield's sudden death.

The Boston Red Sox: "Our hearts are broken with the loss of Tim Wakefield. Wake embodied true goodness; a devoted husband, father, and teammate, beloved broadcaster, and the ultimate community leader. He gave so much to the game and all of Red Sox Nation."

Hall of Famer David Ortiz: "I can’t describe what you mean to me and my family, my heart is broken right now because l will never be able to replace a brother and a friend like you."

Legendary pitcher Roger Clemens: "Well…this is heartbreaking news. A great person, great teammate, and great golfing companion for many of our playing years. I told him many times playing along side [sic] of him what a great competitor he is. Hugs to his family and extended family. Miss you pal."

Former Sox infielder Kevin Youkilis: "He was a great competitor. When he took that mound, he was just a great teammate. And just a great friend. And I had the luxury to play with him on the field [and] on the booth. [I’m] just glad that I had the opportunity over the years to be alongside him."

Boston sportswriter Bob Ryan: "I am sadder than sad. Tim Wakefield has died due to a brain tumor at age. 57. He was real. He was CLASS. This is truly horrible news."

Red Sox owner John Henry: "Tim’s kindness and indomitable spirit were as legendary as his knuckleball. He not only captivated us on the field but was the rare athlete whose legacy extended beyond the record books to the countless lives he touched with his warmth and genuine spirit. He had a remarkable ability to uplift, inspire, and connect with others in a way that showed us the true definition of greatness. He embodied the very best of what it means to be a member of the Boston Red Sox and his loss is felt deeply by all of us."

The MLB: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Tim Wakefield, 19-year Major Leaguer, two-time World Series champion, 2009 AL All-Star, and the 2010 Roberto Clemente Award winner. Tim embodied the finest qualities as a teammate, a competitor, and a caring man. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Wakefield family and all who knew and loved Tim."

Wakefield played 19 seasons in the MLB – playing his first two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the rest with the Red Sox. Wakefield announced his retirement in 2012, leaving the game with 200 wins under his belt. Wakefield helped the Red Sox win two World Series championships – in 2004 and 2007. He owns the Red Sox record for innings pitched (3,006) and most starts (430). Wakefield is regarded as one of the best knuckleball pitchers of all time.

Wakefield was the recipient of the 2010 Roberto Clemente Award recognizing "extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions, both on and off the field."

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Paqui pulls 'One Chip Challenge' snack off shelves following teen's death, 6 elementary school students needing medical attention



The manufacturer behind the viral One Chip Challenge announced that it would be removing the ultra-spicy tortilla chips from retail stores in the wake of the sudden death of a teenager after eating the fiery snack food.

Last week, a Massachusetts teen died after eating a One Chip Challenge snack. As TheBlaze previously reported, 14-year-old Harris Wolobah participated in the One Chip Challenge, a popular internet trend of people eating a super spicy tortilla chip made by Paqui. The challenge is to eat the peppery chip, but to hold out from eating or drinking anything to douse the spiciness of the popular snack food. The challenge has existed since 2016.

Wolobah allegedly consumed the spicy chip while at Doherty High School in Worcester last Friday. The sophomore high school student went to the nurse after a severe stomachache. The boy was picked up by his mother and taken home.

Later that day, the teenager was found unconscious at home and was rushed to the hospital – where he died suddenly.

The teen's official cause of death has not been confirmed, and the results of an autopsy by the Massachusetts Medical Examiner's Office aren't expected for a few weeks.

The boy's father, Amos Wolobah, said his son had "no pre-existing condition" to his knowledge.

Following the sudden death of the teen, Paqui issued a statement to WBZ-TV: "We are deeply saddened by the death of Harris Wolobah and express our condolences to the family. While the Paqui One Chip Challenge is intended for adults only, we have seen an increase in teen usage of the product."

The snack food purveyor announced that it was removing the One Chip Challenge chips from stores.

"We care about all of our consumers and have made the decision to remove the product from shelves," a Paqui spokesperson said on Thursday. "The product's label clearly states it is not for children or anyone sensitive to spicy foods or who has food allergies, is pregnant, or has underlying health conditions. We are actively working with our retailers and are offering refunds for any purchases of our single-serve one chip challenge product."

Customers looking for a refund for the product can call 1-866-528-6848.

The One Chip Challenge tortilla chips are made of two of the hottest peppers in the world: the Carolina Reaper and the Naga Viper.

According to NBC News, "The spiciness of chili peppers is measured on the Scoville scale, which calculates the heat units in a given pepper. Carolina Reapers score around 1.7 million Scoville heat units and Naga Viper peppers around 1.4 million. A jalapeño pepper, by contrast, rates up to 8,500 Scoville heat units."

The chips are wrapped individually and sold in packaging shaped like a coffin with a skull on the front of the box.

On Wednesday, six elementary school students in Florida needed medical attention after coming in contact with the One Chip Challenge snacks.

D'Anton Patrick told WPTV that his 12-year-old son purchased One Chip Challenge snacks at a Walgreens in Boynton Beach, Florida. The boy's mother found them and threw them in the garbage. However, his 10-year-old daughter retrieved them from the garbage and brought them to her elementary school.

She shared the spicy snack with fellow students at Forest Park Elementary School. After coming in contact with the One Chip Challenge, six children required medical attention at the school.

Patrick's daughter was suspended from school for a week.

Paqui is owned by Amplify Snack Brands – which was purchased by the Hershey Company for $1.6 billion in 2018, according to PennLive.

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'The Wire' and 'John Wick' star Lance Reddick dead at 60 from 'natural causes'



Lance Reddick, star of "The Wire" and "John Wick," died unexpectedly on Friday morning at the age of 60.

Around 9:30 a.m. on Friday, police rushed to Reddick's home in the Valley Village neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

The Hollywood actor's sudden death was confirmed by Reddick’s legal representative, James E. Hornstein. Reddick's publicist said the "Bosch" actor died from "natural causes."

"Acclaimed actor Lance Reddick passed away suddenly this morning from natural causes," Reddick's publicist Mia Hansen said in a statement. "Lance will be greatly missed. Please respect his family’s privacy at this time."

A day before his sudden death, Reddick posted photos on Instagram of him smiling and playing with his dogs. Three days earlier, Reddick posted a video of him singing along with his dogs.

Reddick — who was born in Baltimore, Maryland — was best known for his role as Baltimore police Lieutenant Cedric Daniels on "The Wire."

Reddick was a fixture in the "John Wick" franchise as the character Charon. He appears in "John Wick: Chapter 4," which debuts next week. Before he died suddenly, Reddick had recently been doing interviews to promote the latest "John Wick" movie starring Keanu Reeves.

Reddick began his acting career in 1996 and had 112 acting credits to his name.

Reddick also appeared in "Fringe," "Lost," Oz," "Corporate," "New York Undercover," "The Blacklist," "Numbers," "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," "The Nanny," "Law & Order: SVU," "CSI: Miami," the "Resident Evil" television series, "Godzilla vs. Kong," and "One Night In Miami."

Following his unexpected death, Reddick is survived by his wife, Stephanie Reddick, and children, Yvonne Nicole and Christopher Reddick.

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Argentine model found dead in Mexico. Authorities rule tragic death a suicide, but woman's family says she was murdered, and they know who killed her.



An Argentine model was found dead in her apartment in Mexico. Authorities ruled the tragic death a suicide. However, the woman's family believes she was murdered, and they say they know who killed her.

Agostina Jalabert, 31, was found dead around 7 a.m. on Feb. 18 in her apartment in the tourist hotspot of Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Agostina's 21-year-old sister, Candela Jalabert, found the model dead in the bathroom.

Before entering the apartment, security reportedly informed Candela that police recently visited her sister's home after neighbors informed authorities that they heard screaming on two occasions.

Candela attempted to enter the apartment by using a security code, but it didn't work that day. The sister began frantically banging on the front door. Agostina's boyfriend, Juan Reverter, answered the door and said that Jalabert was sleeping.

MEAWW reported that Jalabert's father, Edgardo Jalabert, told Argentine news network TN, "Candela was about to leave the apartment but Agostina’s dog caught her attention and guided her to the bathroom where she found her sister sitting in the bathtub with a towel wrapped around her hands. This character said he was sleeping when Candela arrived and asked for his sister."

"The dog, Bruna, led her to the bathroom, and there they found Agostina hanging from the towel rack, sitting or semi-sitting, (a few feet) from the floor," the father said, adding that she had "injuries of all kinds."

Agostina's uncle, Germán Jalabert, told the news website Pagina 12 that his niece wasn't suicidal, and it seemed improbable that she could kill herself in the position that she was found.

"The towel rack was about (four feet) from the floor. It's hard to think that a person can hang from a height lower than their height," Germán explained.

He said that Candela attempted to revive her unresponsive sister, but it was too late because she was already dead.

The uncle criticized Mexican authorities for their investigation into the sudden death of Agostina Jalabert.

"None of the basic protocols were applied to investigate and find out the real causes of his death," Germán said. "The boyfriend was not arrested, his phone was not seized, nor were toxicological tests carried out, nor was it verified if he had any injuries."

The family suspects that the boyfriend murdered Agostina.

Edgardo said, "The autopsy, according to the lawyer, reveals that this is a femicide due to the injuries my daughter has."

Betina Teuly, the family's lawyer, proclaimed that "there is sufficient evidence" to prove that Jalabert was murdered by Reverter.

However, Mexican authorities have not prosecuted Reverter.

Teuly has urged Argentina's Foreign Ministry to convince Mexican authorities to reclassify the case from a suicide to a femicide. The Mexican prosecutor's office is reportedly still investigating the unexpected death.

Reverter has reportedly not been seen since Jalabert's death.

According to El Pais, Edgardo said, "Now he's gone and we don't know his whereabouts. He never contacted us to give an explanation, since he was the person with whom he [Agostina] lived for the last two months."

Teuly said Reverter "ran like a coward."

The family believes Reverter may have fled to Asia, San Francisco, or Canada — where he once lived.

Edgardo Jalabert said Agostina broke up with Reverter in June 2021, but the couple reunited in December 2022, and he moved in with her around Christmas.

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Family says 28-year-old Jansen Panettiere died suddenly of enlarged heart, Hayden Panettiere honors 'brilliant' brother



Jansen Panettiere's cause of death has been revealed after the 28-year-old died suddenly last month.

Jansen Panettiere, the younger brother of actress Hayden Panettiere, died unexpectedly on Feb. 19 at his apartment in Nyack, New York. Friends of the actor found Jansen "sitting upright in a chair unresponsive." The friends attempted to revive Panettiere with CPR, but were unsuccessful. EMTs pronounced Panettiere dead at the scene.

Jansen's father, Alan "Skip" Panettiere, noted that he talked to his son on the phone the night before and thought he "sounded okay."

The Panettiere family divulged that Jansen suddenly died from an enlarged heart.

"Though it offers little solace, the Medical Examiner reported Jansen’s sudden passing was due to cardiomegaly (enlarged heart), coupled with aortic valve complications," the family said in a statement to ABC News.

"Jansen’s heart could be seen in his eyes, and his charm in his brilliant, engaging smile; his soul in his masterful and revealing paintings, and the joy of life in his dry wit," the family said in the tribute to the actor turned artist.

"We sincerely appreciate the outpouring of love and support towards our family as we navigate this unthinkable loss, and ask that we be gifted our privacy during this time of mourning. We love you so much Jansen and you will be in our hearts forever," said his family — his father, mother Lesley Vogel, and sister Hayden Panettiere.

The Cleveland Clinic describes an enlarged heart as a "heart that’s bigger than what is typical."

"Your heart may be unusually thick or dilated (stretched). An enlarged heart may be temporary or permanent, depending on the cause," the Cleveland Clinic explains. "Cardiomegaly can happen to your whole heart or just parts of it. Heart enlargement can be your heart’s reaction to something that forces it to use more effort to circulate blood."

According to the Mayo Clinic: "An enlarged heart (cardiomegaly) can be caused by damage to the heart muscle or any condition that makes the heart pump harder than usual, including pregnancy."

The Mayo Clinic lists several medical conditions associated with an enlarged heart, such as damage from a heart attack, high blood pressure, low red blood cell count, diseases of the heart muscle and valves, unusual accumulation of protein deposits in the heart, thyroid issues, and heart conditions that have been present since birth.

Dr. Shriprasad R. Deshpande, medical director of the Heart Transplant and Advanced Cardiac Therapies Program at Children's National Hospital, told Yahoo Entertainment the possible symptoms of an enlarged heart.

"There may be a decrease in exercise capacity, they may have a fast heartbeat, and sometimes they may experience syncope (blackout/passing out)," Deshpande said. "In children, the only presenting symptom may be breathing problems and stomach pains or loss of appetite. Serious presentations are sudden cardiac arrest, which may result in sudden death."

Jansen Panettiere was a painter and an actor who appeared in "The Walking Dead," "Ice Age: The Meltdown," "Blue's Clues," "Even Stevens," "Perfect Game," and the animated Nickelodeon series "The X's." Jansen most recently appeared in the 2022 holiday movie "Love and Love Not."

Jansen and his celebrity sister Hayden Panettiere appeared together in the 2004 TV movie "Tiger Cruise" and in the "Racing Stripes" animated TV show in 2005.

Just weeks before his death, Jansen posted a photo on Instagram of his older sister giving him a haircut.

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Former American swimming champion dies suddenly at 42 in US Virgin Islands: 'She had a huge heart'



A former American swimming champion died suddenly in the U.S. Virgin Islands at the age of 42. The U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department has launched an investigation into the sudden death of Jamie Cail.

Cail's boyfriend – who was not identified by police – said he left a bar around midnight on Tuesday and returned to the residence he shared with Cail, according to authorities. The boyfriend found Cail unresponsive in their home.

"Upon his arrival, he discovered his girlfriend on the floor," police said, according to ABC News.

The boyfriend and a friend reportedly rushed Cail to the Myrah Keating-Smith Clinic in a private car. CPR was administered to Cail, but it was too late.

The U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department said in a statement, "On Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at approximately 2:39 a.m., detectives were notified of a dead on arrival (D.O.A) case at the Myrah Keating-Smith Clinic on St. John."

Police said Cail "succumbed to her ailment," but did not specify what the malady was.

Cail – a native of Claremont, New Hampshire – was a star swimmer in her youth.

As a teenager, Cail won a gold medal at the U.S. team at the Pan Pacific Championships in 1997. She also won a silver medal at the 1998-1999 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Brazil. Cail also set several school records at the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida.

Cail worked at a local coffee shop in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and allegedly made an impact on the community before her unexpected death.

A friend told WMUR-TV, "She was just… a very beautiful person. She had a huge heart. She was really loving and kind and well-loved and popular on the island and everybody knows her."

"Everyone from the you know, older generational, local families to the younger people, everybody loved her," Cail's friend said.

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Actor Jansen Panettiere dies suddenly at 28, brother of Hayden Panettiere 'sounded okay' before unexpected death



New details have been released about the sudden death of Hollywood actor Jansen Panettiere.

Panettiere died shortly after 5 p.m. on Sunday at his apartment in Nyack, New York.

An unresponsive Panettiere was found by three of Jansen's friends: Benjamin Brown, Joe Fails, and Lars Arianti. The friends grew "concerned" when Panettiere didn't show up at a prearranged meeting the night before. The friends went to Pannettiere's home and found the actor "sitting upright in a chair unresponsive." The friends called 911 and attempted to revive Panettiere with CPR.

The initial report from the Orangetown Police Department said officers entered the apartment to find an "unresponsive male with CPR in progress." Police arrived as Brown was performing CPR on Panettiere, who was lying on his back on the living room floor.

According to Fox News, "Panettiere was reportedly not breathing and was cold to the touch with lividity."

Panettiere, 28, was pronounced dead at 5:11 p.m. on Sunday by a responding EMTs at the actor's apartment.

Alan "Skip" Panettiere, Jansen's father, reportedly told EMTs that he talked to Jansen "via telephone the night before" and he "sounded okay."

Officers noted in the police report that "there were no obvious signs of trauma observed."

Orangetown Police Sgt. Peter Maher said, "As part of this ongoing investigation we are awaiting an official determination of the cause of death from the Rockland County Medical Examiner."

There were five lines of the police report that were redacted.

Panettiere's cause of death was not immediately known. An investigation into his sudden death has been launched.

Catherine Michie, the reported girlfriend of Jansen, paid tribute to Panettiere.

"I met you only a year ago, but you have been my best friend and biggest fan," Michie wrote on Instagram. "I will never forget the first time I saw your face and the first things you said to me. Words cannot express the pain of knowing I won’t hear your laugh again."

"I hope you find peace, and I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me most," she continued. "The world is better because you were in it. I know we will paint together again someday. I’ll always be your sugarpop. Someone wake me up and tell me this is a dream."

Like his celebrity sister Hayden Panettiere, Jansen began acting at a young age. Jansen started acting in 2002 and had 43 acting credits to his name.

Jansen had a recurring role as the character "Truman X" in the animated TV series "The X's" on Nickelodeon. Panettiere also appeared in "The Walking Dead," "Ice Age: The Meltdown," "Even Stevens," and "Perfect Game." Most recently, Jansen appeared in the 2022 holiday movie "Love and Love Not."

Hayden and Jansen appeared together in the 2004 TV movie "Tiger Cruise" and in the "Racing Stripes" animated TV show in 2005.

Jansen turned to painting after suffering "terrible anxiety and depression."

Jansen's website states, "After spending time in L.A. as an adult he was ridden with terrible anxiety and depression; this period in his life eventually produced a spiritual clarity that drove him to start painting his problems, one by one."

Jansen is survived by his older sister and their parents.

Hayden Panettiere's Younger Brother Jansen Panettiere Dead at 28 | E! News www.youtube.com

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17-year-old Wyoming basketball player dies suddenly after 'freakish medical situation'



A 17-year-old Wyoming basketball player died suddenly after a medical event, according to local reports.

Max Sorenson died unexpectedly at his home in Gillette on Dec. 26. He was pronounced dead at Campbell County Memorial Hospital.

Campbell County Coroner Paul Wallem told the Cowboy State Daily that the teen's sudden death would not be investigated as a suicide, homicide, or caused by the use of illegal drugs.

An autopsy of the junior high school student was being conducted in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Wallem said preliminary findings show that Sorenson suddenly died from peritonitis.

The Mayo Clinic explains that peritonitis "happens when the thin layer of tissue inside the abdomen becomes inflamed." Peritonitis can be caused by infection by bacteria – typically when someone has liver disease or kidney disease. Other health conditions that cause peritonitis are liver cirrhosis, appendicitis, stomach ulcers, diverticulitis (inflammation of pouches in the digestive tract), Crohn's disease, and pancreatitis. Peritonitis can also be caused by a "rupture, inside an organ in the abdomen."

Wallem told the Cowboy State Daily, "We are assuming it’s (from) an injury related to a sporting event."

The coroner said he is "focusing on the injury in the sporting event as the cause of peritonitis," but added that if the determination isn't supported by medical evidence, then "we will continue to look at other answers."

Wallen said that additional tests by a forensic pathologist were being conducted.

Sorenson's obituary said the 17-year-old died "due to complications from injuries sustained playing basketball."

"Max had an incredible work ethic and was very disciplined. His focus was evidenced by his achievements at school, on the basketball court, at church and in his social activities," the obituary read. "Even more important than those successes were his welcoming smile, kind eyes, curly locks and loving personality, which made friendship with him easy and comfortable and was felt by everyone."

His parents said he was a "smart, hard-working student, he maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA." Max also played golf, and was a wakesurfer and wakeboarder.

"Max loved his savior and the gospel of Jesus Christ. He attended early-morning seminary and served as the bishop’s first assistant in his Gillette ward as well as other leadership positions in the church," his parents said.

"Max loved basketball and in particular he loved his teammates, coaches, and the chance to travel to various locations to play," the obituary continued. "He was a member of the varsity basketball team at Thunder Basin High School and looked forward to helping the Bolts to a repeat Wyoming state championship in 2023."

Sorenson was a 6'3" guard weighing 175 lbs. who played on the Thunder Basin High School basketball team.

The Thunder Basin boys basketball team paid tribute to the teen who tragically died.

Thunder Basin High School basketball coach Rory Williams said, "I'm not going to remember Max as the basketball player. I'm going to remember Max as the kindest young man I’ve ever been around. He was just so genuine, authentic; his personality was contagious."

Williams said Sorenson's sudden death was a "freakish medical situation."

During the recent Hoop City Classic basketball tournament, the Thunder Basin High School boys basketball team honored Sorenson by wearing his #3 jersey. The Harrisburg High School boys basketball team also paid tribute to Max by wearing Sorenson's #3.

\u201cWe would like to send our thoughts and prayers to the Thunder Basin basketball team who are playing with heavy hearts after the sudden passing of Max Sorenson\u201d
— Hoop City Classic (@Hoop City Classic) 1672268636


\u201cClass act by @HarrisburgBBB honoring Thunder Basin\u2019s Max Sorenson before its game with @DeLaSalleMBB at #HoopCityClassic22 @sanford_complex\u201d
— Hoop City Classic (@Hoop City Classic) 1672354102