Gene Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa, died at least one day later than authorities initially thought, according to new evidence recovered by New Mexico authorities. The original timeline had stated that she likely passed away on February 11 due to a rare viral infection.
However, investigators discovered that Arakawa made phone calls to a medical clinic on the morning of February 12, scheduling an appointment for that afternoon. She did not show up for her appointment but was still alive at some point in between.
The lead physician at Cloudberry Health Clinic stated that Arakawa had reported feeling congested but showed no signs of respiratory distress. The clinic called her back after she missed the appointment, and Dr. Josiah Child suspected that she was starting to feel ill and reached out for help.
Arakawa’s death was later confirmed by the state medical examiner as caused by hantavirus, a virus contracted through exposure to rodents’ excrement. Gene Hackman died from heart disease nearly a week after his wife’s passing, with estimates suggesting he died on February 18.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/movies/gene-hackman-betsy-arakawa-died-later.html