Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Gene Hackman succumbed to advanced Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease after living for about a week with the decomposing body of his dead wife Betsy Arakawa, who died from a rare rat-borne disease.
In a horrific twist, autopsies revealed Arakawa, 65, died from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome on February 11.
Hackman, 95, died about 7 days later, around February 18, before the couple’s mummified remains were found in separate rooms of their $3.8 million Santa Fe home on February 26.
Dr. Heather Jarrell, Chief Medical Investigator for the state of New Mexico, said their deaths had both been ruled as natural, and that no signs of internal or external trauma were found.
Their dog Zinna, who was found dead near Arakawa, was picked up from a veterinary hospital on February 9 after undergoing a procedure, which may explain why it was found in a kennel, according to authorities.
When questioned by reporters, Jarrell also said that it was likely that Hackman didn’t even realize his wife had died due to his advanced Alzheimer’s.
Arakawa is said to have died first on February 11 due to her infection, which initially presents with flu like symptoms.
A CDC source told DailyMail.com that while the couple’s main home did not show any signs of rodent activity, some of the property’s outbuildings – including a garage and two casitas – had rodent droppings and other evidence of rodent activity.
Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead at their Sante Fe, New Mexico home last week
Gene Hackman attends the premiere of the film ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ December 6, 2001 in Hollywood
In an update issued on Friday, the cause of death for the couple was revealed
Hantavirus is typically is reported in spring and summer, often due to exposures that occur when people are near mouse droppings in homes, sheds or poorly ventilated areas.
While hantavirus is found throughout the world, most cases in the U.S. have been found in western states.
The virus can cause a severe and sometimes deadly lung infection. Symptoms can include coughing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest.
The mortality of the hantavirus strain in the south west of the United States is about 38% to 50%, and is not transmissible from person to person, Dr Jarrell added.
Jarrell said there was no reliable method to get an exact time for death, but concluded that Hackman probably died around February 18.
In a full timeline of events, officials said that Arakawa had picked up their dog Zinna from a vet hospital after the dog underwent treatment on February 9.
On February 11, they said she had an email conversation with her massage therapist before later in the afternoon going to a farmers market.
She was caught on CVS surveillance footage shortly after the market, before then going to a local pet food store.
Hackman and Arakawa are seen with two unidentified dogs. One of their dogs also died in their home
Santa Fe officials last week said that Hackman’s last event noted on his pacemaker was recorded on February 17
Her car was then seen on surveillance entering the gated community at 5:15pm on February 11.
Officials said that numerous emails went unopened on February 11, and that there was no further communication from her account after that day.
Detectives are still waiting on retrieving her full cell phone data, but said her last known activity was February 11.
Officials also said that Zinna had been found dead inside a crate in their residence, and was likely put in it after her treatment.
Hackman was discovered lying on the ground of a mud room just off the kitchen with his sunglasses and cane nearby, indicating he may have fallen according to officials.
Jarrell said that there was no food inside Hackman, and that there was no signs of dehydration.
‘Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer´s disease,’ Jarrell said.
‘He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that’s what resulted in his death.’
Chief Medical Investigator Heather Jarrell
His wife was found lying on her side in the bathroom with a space heater next to her head.
On Friday, officials also said that prescription pills found strewn across a countertop have since been identified as those prescribed for treating a thyroid problem.
Last week, Santa Fe officials said that Hackman’s last event noted on his pacemaker was recorded on February 17.
Officials had also said that there was no trace of carbon monoxide in the bodies of the couple.
Hackman’s daughter Elizabeth had earlier floated a theory that the couple had died from carbon monoxide poisoning, which authorities officially quashed last week.
She told TMZ that the family believed their deaths came about after inhaling the toxic fumes.
Hackman shared three children with his first wife Faye Maltese. He and Arakawa, a classical pianist, had been married for the last three decades.
The gruff-but-beloved Hackman was among the finest actors of his generation, appearing as villains, heroes and antiheroes in dozens of dramas, comedies and action films from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza
Santa Fe County deputies remain outside the house belonging to actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were earlier found dead
He was a five-time Oscar nominee who won for The French Connection in 1972 and Unforgiven two decades later.
Hackman met Arakawa, a classically trained pianist who grew up in Hawaii, when she was working part-time at a California gym in the mid-1980s.
They soon moved in together, and by the end of the decade had decamped to Santa Fe.
A naturally private man, Hackman was labelled a recluse as he remained out of the public eye for years on end following his retirement from the movie industry. He retired from acting in 2004.
Friends occasionally shared glimpses of his post-acting life, including social media shots of fishing expeditions – while paying tribute to his silver screen triumphs. He would also occasionally be spotted pedaling around Santa Fe on a bicycle.
The couple´s stucco, Pueblo-revival style home sits on a hill in a gated community at the southern tip of the Rocky Mountains. Santa Fe is known as a refuge for celebrities, artists and authors.
Hackman dedicated much of his time in retirement to painting and writing novels far from Hollywood´s social circuit.
He served for several years on the board of trustees at the Georgia O´Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, and he and his wife were investors in local businesses.
In an interview with Empire in 2020, he said he enjoyed watching DVDs that Arakawa rented.
Hackman said: ‘We like simple stories that some of the little low-budget films manage to produce.
‘Friday night is set aside for a Comedy Channel marathon, with particular attention paid to Eddie Izzard. The speed of thought is amazing.’
