Overview

• Gene Hackman, 95, died of heart disease with Alzheimer’s as a contributing factor, a week after his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome at their Santa Fe home.
• An environmental assessment revealed significant rodent infestation in outbuildings on the property, with nests, feces, and live and dead rodents found, though the main house remained clean.
• Arakawa’s internet searches and emails before her death show she was researching flu-like symptoms and COVID-19, unaware she had contracted hantavirus, a rare rodent-borne disease.
• The couple’s bodies were discovered on February 26, days after their deaths, alongside one deceased dog, while two surviving dogs were found alive on the property.
• Authorities have released redacted investigation records, including body camera footage and environmental reports, while maintaining privacy protections for the deceased.