"Saed News: The case of the suspicious death of the famous actor and his wife has been closed."
"According to the incident report by Saed News, the medical examiner announced that Gene Hackman likely passed away about a week after his wife, Betsy Arakawa, who had died due to the hantavirus.
Gene Hackman and His Wife
Hackman died of cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s was also identified as a contributing factor in his death, according to Heather Jarrell, the chief medical examiner of New Mexico.
Variety reported that Arakawa likely passed away around February 11 due to hantavirus, which is transmitted through rodents and can be fatal. Both deaths were categorized as natural, including causes such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, respiratory failure, infections, and complications due to aging.
Gene Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, were found dead in their home on February 26. Officials stated that there was no sign of criminal involvement in the case.
At a press conference on Friday, Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza revealed that surveillance footage showed Arakawa leaving home on February 11 for daily errands. She visited a grocery store and a pharmacy and also exchanged emails with a massage therapist that same day.
Her vehicle was recorded entering the gated community where the couple lived at 5:15 p.m. After that date, no further activity or communication was registered from her.
According to the medical examiner, Hackman suffered from advanced Alzheimer’s and severe heart problems, with a history of heart attacks. His test results for hantavirus came back negative.
Erin Phipps, the chief public health veterinarian of New Mexico, stated at the press conference that hantavirus infections are extremely rare. Over the past 50 years, there have been 136 recorded cases in the state, with a 42% fatality rate. The virus is typically transmitted through rodent droppings.
Phipps also mentioned that evidence of rodent activity was found in some buildings on the property, but the risk within the main house was considered low.
Hackman’s pacemaker recorded his last heart activity on February 17. On February 18, the device detected an abnormal rhythm, indicating that he had passed away that day.
Last week, authorities announced that tests showed no signs of carbon monoxide poisoning in either of the bodies. Additionally, New Mexico Gas Company conducted a full inspection of the home and found no significant gas leaks.
According to search warrant documents, Arakawa’s body was found on the bathroom floor with scattered medications on the counter. At the press conference, the medical examiner clarified that these were thyroid medications and had been taken as prescribed.
Hackman was found unresponsive in a room near the kitchen. Both appeared to have collapsed on the floor. A deceased dog was discovered inside a closet near Arakawa’s body, while two other dogs were found alive wandering around the property. The cause of the dog’s death is still under investigation.
A service worker noticed the home’s door partially open and alerted the police, leading to the discovery of the bodies.
The circumstances of their deaths were suspicious enough to warrant further investigation. Detectives seized two mobile phones, a monthly planner, and several medications from the home.
Gene Hackman starred in films such as The French Connection, The Conversation, and The Royal Tenenbaums. He had lived in Santa Fe since the late 1980s and served on the board of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. Hackman won Academy Awards for The French Connection and Unforgiven and retired from acting about 20 years ago.
Betsy Arakawa, a former classical pianist, married Hackman in 1991. She co-owned and operated Pandora, an interior decor store in Santa Fe, with a friend."
