Gene Hackman, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their home by two maintenance workers on February 26th.
When the police arrived, Gene Hackman’s body was found on the kitchen floor, and Betsy’s was found lying on a bathroom floor with pills scattered nearby. The police said the circumstances appeared to be suspicious, so they ordered a thorough search and investigation.
They found no outward signs of injury, but it appeared they had died days (or weeks) before because their bodies were decomposing and partially mummified. Carbon monoxide poisoning was ruled out, and both tested negative for Covid-19.
According to reports, Betsy was last seen or heard from on February 11th, when she entered her home’s gated community after a day of running errands. Medical examiners believe Mr. Hackman died on February 18th, when his pacemaker recorded his last heartbeat.
The chief medical examiner has now determined that Betsy died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease that results from infection through contact with rodents. The most common rodent to spread this disease is the deer mouse (Perosyscus maniculatus). 136 of these infections have been reported in New Mexico, where they lived, over the past 50 years. 42% of those infections were fatal.
At the age of 95, Mr. Hackman suffered from heart disease and advanced dementia. Investigators believe that without having Betsy there to take care of him, it may have led to his death. His autopsy revealed he had not eaten in days.
The legendary actor, and his wife, were a loving couple who enjoyed a life together for over 30 years. Their friends say she would do anything to keep him healthy.
Ladies and gentlemen, please don’t let rodents ruin your life. If you have rodents in your home or business, it is time to get rid of them, NOW!
