Overview

• Gene Hackman, 95, died of cardiovascular disease with advanced Alzheimer’s, while Betsy Arakawa, 65, succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome; their deaths occurred approximately a week apart in February 2025.
• Phone records revealed Arakawa made calls to a medical concierge service on February 12, contradicting earlier reports that she died on February 11, leading authorities to revise the timeline of her death.
• Hackman’s will left his $80 million estate entirely to Arakawa, but her death before him has triggered legal uncertainties, with his children potentially contesting the estate in probate court.
• A New Mexico court has temporarily blocked the release of autopsy reports, photos, and videos related to the deaths, citing privacy concerns for the reclusive couple.
• Authorities continue to investigate the timeline of events, with further cellphone data expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding Arakawa’s death.