Overview

• Gene Hackman, 95, died from heart disease with advanced Alzheimer's as a contributing factor, while his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
• The couple’s bodies were discovered on February 26, 2025, in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home, but they had died days apart—Arakawa on February 11 and Hackman around February 18.
• One of their two surviving dogs helped first responders locate Hackman's body in a mudroom after initially finding Arakawa in a bathroom.
• The estate of Hackman and Arakawa has petitioned to block the release of autopsy photos and investigation records, citing privacy concerns.
• Hantavirus, a rare rodent-borne disease, raises public health concerns, though officials confirmed Hackman did not contract the virus.