Overview

• Gene Hackman died on February 18, 2025, from heart disease exacerbated by advanced Alzheimer’s, while Betsy Arakawa succumbed to a Hantavirus infection likely linked to rodent exposure.
• Investigative reports released on April 15, 2025, included emails, phone records, and web searches showing Arakawa researched symptoms like dizziness and nasal bleeding shortly before her death.
• Authorities discovered severe rodent infestations across multiple outbuildings on the couple’s Santa Fe property, described as a 'breeding ground for vermin.'
• Arakawa was last seen alive on February 11, 2025, and may have sought medical assistance the following day, while Hackman’s pacemaker recorded his last heartbeat on February 18.
• The couple was privately buried in Santa Fe in a small memorial service attended by close family, with legal measures enacted to protect sensitive investigation materials.