The New Mexico property of legendary Hollywood actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, was revealed to be infested with rats that likely played a role in their deaths.
Hackman, aged 95, and Arakawa, 65, were discovered lifeless in their home on February 26 after security personnel noticed their bodies through a window, prompting authorities to investigate.
Initial Investigations and Cause of Death
At first, carbon monoxide poisoning was considered as a potential cause of death, but that theory was soon dismissed.
Investigators made a chilling discovery: the couple’s dog was also found dead elsewhere on the property.
This raised questions, especially since carbon monoxide poisoning would likely have affected all living creatures in the house.
Further analysis revealed that Arakawa had succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome around February 12, a rare and dangerous disease caused by the hantavirus, which is typically transmitted through contact with rodent droppings and urine.
Gene Hackman’s death, believed to have occurred on February 18, was attributed to severe heart disease, worsened by his existing conditions of Alzheimer’s disease and kidney issues.
There was speculation that Hackman might not have known about his wife’s passing, given the severity of his health at the time.
The Rodent Infestation
A week after the bodies were discovered, the New Mexico Department of Public Health carried out a health inspection of the property to determine whether anyone else, including first responders, might have been at risk of exposure to the virus. The findings were startling.
The health assessment uncovered a significant rodent infestation across the property, with dead rodents and nests found in eight detached outbuildings.
These structures, which included garages, casitas, and sheds, were deemed a “breeding ground” for hantavirus.
The virus, which spreads through rodent urine and droppings, is most commonly contracted when people clean spaces where rodents have been active, such as basements or attics.
Inspectors also discovered a live rodent, as well as a dead one and a rodent nest, in additional garages.
Traps were found in various buildings, signaling that the rodent problem had been ongoing for some time.
There were even two vehicles on the property showing signs of rodent activity.
Health Assessment Findings
Despite the alarming discoveries in the outbuildings, the primary residence where Hackman and Arakawa were found was determined to be “low-risk,” with no visible signs of a rodent infestation inside.
The health department’s investigation was crucial in determining whether those who had visited or worked on the property might have been exposed to the deadly virus.
The Hantavirus and Its Rare Occurrence
The hantavirus, first identified in South Korea in 1978, is extremely rare in the United States.
Fewer than 50 cases are reported annually across the country.
In contrast, West Nile Virus cases are far more common, with around 2,000 occurrences every year.
However, in a tragic twist, just after Arakawa’s death, the virus claimed three more lives in Mammoth Lakes, California.
The Couple’s Estate and Will
As part of the aftermath, it was revealed that Hackman’s 1995 will named Betsy Arakawa as his sole inheritor.
However, Arakawa’s own will included a provision stating that if the couple were to pass away within 90 days of each other, the proceeds from their estate would be donated to charity.
Hackman, who retired from acting after his 2004 film Welcome to Mooseport, had become a private figure in his later years, rarely appearing in public.
Court Order and Release of Investigation Materials
Earlier this month, court-ordered body cam footage and other details of the investigation into the deaths were made public.
A judge in New Mexico ruled to release redacted police body camera videos and other investigative materials, including images of the couple’s dog, though the bodies of Hackman and Arakawa were not to be shown.
This ruling followed a temporary court order that had kept these materials sealed to protect the family’s privacy.
Judge Matthew Wilson emphasized that no video or photograph should depict the bodies of Hackman or Arakawa.
The tragedy surrounding the couple’s deaths, combined with the unexpected discovery of the hantavirus’ role, has left many questioning the extent of the rodent problem on their property and its connection to their passing.