Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, died under mysterious circumstances after investigators found evidence of rodent activity on their property in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Arakawa, 65, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare condition caused by contact with rodents, while Hackman, 95, died from heart disease with Alzheimer’s as a significant contributory factor.
According to health records obtained by Entertainment Weekly, investigators found rodent feces in multiple locations on the couple’s sprawling property. However, no signs of rodent activity were found in their main dwelling.
The investigation revealed that Arakawa likely died from her illness several days before Hackman. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome causes respiratory issues within one to eight weeks after contact with rodents and is fatal in 38% of reported cases.
Hackman’s specific cause of death was determined to be hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiac disease, not hantavirus. The couple was found dead by authorities at the same time on February 26, alongside one of their dogs.
Source: https://ew.com/dead-rodents-and-nests-found-gene-hackman-wife-betsy-home-11716626