Esteemed actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were discovered deceased in their New Mexico residence, according to official reports released on Friday. Arakawa, 65, had fallen victim to Hantavirus, a rare flu-like disease linked to rodents. Her last known sighting was on February 11, the same day she last communicated with anyone, as per Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza. The New Mexico Chief Medical Examiner, Heather Jarrell, speculated that Arakawa likely succumbed to the virus on that day.
Hackman, aged 95, is believed to have passed away approximately a week later due to complications from heart disease and Alzheimer’s. Jarrell indicated that Hackman’s health had been deteriorating due to his advanced Alzheimer’s, and it’s possible he was unaware of his wife’s passing. The medical examiner also confirmed that Hackman was not dehydrated at the time of his death, which is believed to have occurred on February 18, the day after his last recorded pacemaker activity. However, his stomach was found empty.
Jarrell suggested that Arakawa likely contracted the Hantavirus following exposure to rodent droppings. The disease, which can only be transmitted from animals to humans, would have caused her to feel unwell three to six days before her death. Despite evidence of rodent activity around the property, the risk of exposure in the main residence was deemed low, similar to other well-maintained houses in New Mexico.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was notified of Arakawa’s case. However, New Mexico State Public Health Veterinarian Erin Phipps stated there was no unusual increase in Hantavirus cases. The disease, which can manifest anywhere from a week to eight weeks after exposure, causes flu-like symptoms such as fever and nausea, which can quickly escalate to breathing difficulties. Between 1993 and 2022, only 865 cases of the disease have been reported in the US.
The couple was discovered by maintenance and security workers at their Santa Fe mansion on February 26. Hackman was found near his cane and sunglasses in the mudroom of the house, while Arakawa was discovered in a bathroom with an open prescription bottle and pills scattered on the counter. One of their three dogs, Zinna, was also found deceased in a crate in the bathroom closet near Arakawa. Their other two dogs, Bear and Nikita, were found alive, wandering inside and outside the property.
The couple’s bodies had begun to decompose and partially mummify due to the dry air and high altitude of the area. Mendoza stated that it did not appear as though the couple had a caretaker assisting them at home. Hackman’s pacemaker registered activity on February 17, nine days before the couple was found. Further examination of his pacemaker data showed an abnormal rhythm of atrial fibrillation a day later, which was the last record of heart activity.
There were no external or internal signs of trauma on their bodies, and no signs of foul play, according to Jarrell. However, their deaths were still deemed suspicious, prompting further investigation. The couple, who met in the 1980s and married in 1991, had become notoriously private and insular, often going long periods without speaking to friends and family. Therefore, their lack of contact in the time after their deaths did not raise any alarm bells.