SANTA FE, N.M. โ The deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa in their New Mexico home have been attributed to natural causes, bringing a tragic conclusion to a week marked by mystery and speculation. Hackman, a 95-year-old actor, passed away due to heart disease, a condition exacerbated by his advanced Alzheimerโs disease. His wife, 65-year-old Betsy Arakawa, succumbed to hantavirus, a rare disease spread by rodent droppings, authorities disclosed on Friday.
The couple was found deceased on February 26, leading to initial uncertainty about the cause, as authorities quickly dismissed foul play and ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning. The recent explanations from New Mexico authorities suggest a heartbreaking sequence of events: after Arakawaโs sudden death, Hackman, likely oblivious to her passing due to his condition, also died of heart diseaseโthe leading cause of death in the country.
โThis case was a baffling mystery to many across the nation,โ remarked Dr. Victor Weedn, a forensic pathologist uninvolved in the investigation, applauding the conclusions reached by the authorities.
The unfortunate events unfolded over several weeks. On February 11, Arakawaโs last known activities were confirmed through her communications and visits to local shops. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza noted that her final entry into their home was recorded at 5:15 p.m. that day, with subsequent investigations linking her death to hantavirus symptoms experienced prior.
Meanwhile, Hackmanโs health seemed to decline rapidly around February 17 and 18, as his pacemaker data indicated cardiac irregularities, ultimately suggesting his passing on February 18, according to Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell.
The lifeless bodies of Hackman, Arakawa, and their pet dog were discovered on February 26 by a maintenance worker, who was conducting routine checks but couldnโt gain entry. After spotting the bodies through a window, the worker alerted the authorities. Mendoza confirmed that Hackman was found in an entryway, Arakawa in a bathroom, and a deceased dog in a closet. Two other dogs, one indoors and one outdoors, were found alive. The deceased dogโs condition remains under investigation with a necropsy planned.
On February 27, autopsies were performed, revealing no immediate causes of death for Hackman and Arakawa. Nevertheless, preliminary findings had ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning or external trauma, Sheriff Mendoza stated.
Finally, it was on March 7 that the authorities conclusively linked Hackmanโs death to heart disease, with Alzheimerโs as a contributing factor, and Arakawaโs death to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but life-threatening condition.