Gene Hackman and Wife Betsy Arakawa Hackman’s Causes of Death Revealed, Investigation Ongoing

The circumstances surrounding the deaths of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa Hackman, have been partially clarified by officials in Santa Fe, New Mexico. While the specific causes of death have been determined, the investigation remains active as authorities seek to resolve outstanding questions and confirm the timeline of events.

Sheriff Adan Mendoza addressed the press more than a week after the couple’s bodies were discovered at their residence on February 26th. He emphasized that while significant progress has been made, certain loose ends, including cell phone records and the necropsy results of the couple’s dog, Zinna, require further examination.

Chief Medical Investigator Dr. Heather Jarrell detailed the findings of the medical examination. Gene Hackman, 95, passed away due to hypertensive atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease identified as a significant contributing factor. Betsy Hackman, 65, succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a disease transmitted to humans by rodents.

Based on the available evidence, Dr. Jarrell concluded that Betsy likely died around February 11th. Gene Hackman, consequently, was likely alone in the home for approximately a week until his death around February 18th, as indicated by the last recorded activity on his pacemaker.

Investigation Continues Despite Key Findings

Despite the established causes of death and the timeline approximation, Sheriff Mendoza stressed the need for continued investigation. "We consider this an open investigation until we close the loopholes of the cell phones, until we finish out the necropsy results of the canine and the other loose ends that we need to tie up," he stated. Detectives are working "backwards" to determine how the couple died.

The search warrant inventory revealed that two cell phones were seized from the Hackman residence. Authorities are hoping the cell phone records may offer further insights into the days leading up to the deaths, despite Mendoza’s skepticism.

Mendoza acknowledged that there is currently no evidence to suggest that Gene Hackman communicated with anyone during the week he was alone following his wife’s death. "I don’t know if he used cell phones or technology or emails, there’s no indication of that," he said.

Betsy Hackman’s Final Days

The press conference also shed light on Betsy Hackman’s activities and communications in the days prior to her death on February 11th. Investigators discovered that Betsy picked up Zinna from Gruda Veterinary Hospital in Santa Fe on February 9th. Zinna was later found dead in a crate inside a closet located approximately 10 to 15 feet from Betsy’s body. Mendoza noted that a prior procedure done with the dog may explain why Zinna was in a crate.

The couple’s other dogs, Bear and Nikita, were found alive on the property. One dog was found near Betsy’s body inside the bathroom and the other outside the residence.

Email communication showed that Betsy exchanged messages with her massage therapist at 11:21 a.m. on February 11th. Later that day, she was seen at the Sprouts farmers market between 3:30 and 4:15 p.m., followed by a visit to the local CVS Pharmacy around 4:20 p.m.

Mendoza stated that there was no additional outgoing communication or known activity from Betsy after February 11th, adding that her cell phone data is still pending review. Numerous emails received on February 11th remained unopened on her computer.

Hantavirus: A Deadly Disease

Dr. Jarrell described hantavirus as a disease characterized by "flu-like symptoms consisting of fever, muscle aches, cough, sometimes vomiting and diarrhea that can progress to shortness of breath and cardiac or heart failure and lung failure."

She expressed uncertainty regarding when Betsy began experiencing symptoms. "I don’t know when she began to feel ill," Jarrell said. "And those are just things that I don’t know that I’m ever going to have the answers to. But I think going back to that initial time period, roughly 3 to 6 days of feeling ill and then succumbing pretty quickly after fluid begins to build up in the lungs."

Mendoza confirmed that investigators are reviewing Betsy’s communications to determine if she mentioned feeling unwell prior to her death.

The Fate of Zinna

The necropsy being performed on Zinna is a crucial element of the ongoing investigation. Dr. Erin Phipps, New Mexico State Veterinarian with the New Mexico Department of Health, explained that it is currently unknown whether Zinna died from starvation or dehydration. However, given the timeline, she acknowledged that it is a possibility, considering that Zinna was crated.

Phipps also clarified that Zinna did not die from the hantavirus, as dogs are not susceptible to the disease.

She further detailed the rarity and severity of hantavirus infections in New Mexico. Between one and seven cases are confirmed annually in the state, and there have been 136 infections over the past 50 years, with five occurring in Santa Fe County. The disease has a high fatality rate, with 42% of those infected in New Mexico succumbing to it.

Suspicious Circumstances Initially Warranted Thorough Investigation

Detectives initially deemed the couple’s deaths "suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation," according to the search warrant affidavit. The ongoing investigation aims to resolve all remaining uncertainties and provide a comprehensive understanding of the tragic events that unfolded at the Hackman residence.

The examination of cell phone records and the results of Zinna’s necropsy are expected to provide further insights into the final days of Gene and Betsy Hackman, shedding light on the timeline of events and potentially revealing any additional contributing factors.