Nov 27, 2007 8:04 pm US/Eastern
Helmsley's $12 Million Dog Victim Of Death Threats
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Leona Helmsley bequeathed $12 million to her beloved dog, Trouble. Two of Helmsley's grandchildren reportedly received nothing.
AP
The late real estate tycoon Leona Helmsley shocked the world when she left $12 million to her beloved dog. The soap opera drama now takes a new twist. Police say Leona's dog is getting death threats, and they are taking it seriously.
It's hard to believe anyone would want to harm the cute, little, white Maltese, but then again, it isn't any normal dog. This is Leona Helmsley's dog we're talking about, and that's getting her some unwanted attention.
"We received any number of threats to kidnap the dog so that was a major problem for us after Leona passed away," said John Codey.
"'I'm gonna kill the dog,'" he said people threatened. "'I'm gonna kidnap the dog. I need the $ 12 million.'"
The Early Show has been given exclusive access to the life, the records and the story behind the $12 million Maltese.
But to understand the dog, you have to first understand Helmsley.
She was a wealthy woman. She and her husband owned more than two-dozen hotels in 10 states, including, the Helmsley hotel, the Park Lane, and the Palace. But her close friends say she was one of the most generous women in the world, quietly giving away close to $100 million to those in need, just over the last decade.
Codey oversees the trust fund of Leona's dog, fittingly named "trouble." Codey says the 4.5 pound Maltese has a rotating security team to make sure she's safe at all times. She even has an alias when traveling on board her private plane. Yes, that's right, her private plane!
"We've had problems keeping her identity confidential and we had to change her name even to take her on the aircraft. We called her "bauble" instead of trouble," said Codey.
It's a lifestyle even Leona would envy. From security to medical care to grooming, servants spend more than $300 thousand a year creating the pampered puppy lifestyle. Trouble even has a posh winter home to escape the cold weather. And what does she do there? She spends most of her time her relaxing and playing in the afternoon light.
Everyone knows Leona loved her dog, and now, you can only wonder how much her dog Trouble, misses Leona. With the lifestyle left for her, it's no surprise if she isn't missing anything at all.
Trouble is scheduled to return to New York City in January for a news conference involving her charitable trust. Her staff says she will, of course, take a private plane to New York, and she will have a tight security team.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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