Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead and already decomposing in their home last month, leaving many questions unanswered.
Turns out, Gene passed away at 95 from complications related to advanced Alzheimer’s and heart disease. But the shocking part? He spent about a week in the same house with the decomposing body of his wife, Betsy Arakawa — without realizing she had died.
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Arakawa, 65, passed away on February 11 from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, a rare disease carried by rodents. Hackman followed about a week later, around February 18.
It wasn’t until February 26 that authorities found their mummified remains in different rooms of their $3.8 million Santa Fe home.
What exactly happened? Authorities have now revealed all the details.
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home
On February 26, maintenance workers discovered the couple dead inside their mansion in Santa Fe Summit, a quiet neighborhood just outside the city in New Mexico.
Hackman had stepped away from the spotlight years ago, choosing a quiet life in Santa Fe, but his passing with his wife and dog has left more questions than answers.
He had three kids with his first wife, Faye Maltese — Elizabeth, Leslie, and Christopher. He later married Arakawa, a classical pianist, and they were together for 30 years.
The search warrant revealed grim details
A search warrant affidavit described the scene inside the couple’s home. The two were found in separate rooms.
Hackman was found lying on the floor of a mudroom near the kitchen. His cane and sunglasses were nearby, leading officials to believe he may have fallen.
Betsy was found in a bathroom with scattered pills nearby. And their dog, Zinna, was also found dead in a crate near Betsy.
Authorities quickly ruled out foul play in their deaths
At first, police investigated whether there was any reason to believe someone else was involved, but they quickly ruled out homicide.
Denise Avila, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, confirmed that neither Hackman nor Betsy had any gunshot wounds or visible injuries.
That didn’t stop people from speculating. Hackman’s daughter, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, even spoke out, saying she thought carbon monoxide poisoning could have been the cause.
No significant gas leaks or signs of carbon monoxide poisoning
The Santa Fe City Fire Department ran tests, checking for carbon monoxide, but they didn’t find anything. No leaks, no poisoning.
A gas leak seemed like a possible explanation, but the New Mexico Gas Company checked and said they only found a tiny leak near a stove burner — just 0.33 percent gas in the air. Not a big deal, definitely not enough to be lethal.
Inspectors also found some other code violations, but none had anything to do with gas or carbon monoxide. Just some issues with a water heater and gas log lighters in a few fireplaces.
The sheriff’s office also made it clear: natural gas wasn’t what killed them.
No signs of a break-in
When deputies arrived at the house on February 26, they didn’t see any signs of forced entry. The front door was open, but nothing pointed to foul play.
Despite this, investigators still considered the deaths suspicious.
Authorities believe Betsy died first
Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya recently shared a new detail — one that makes the situation even more heartbreaking.
Authorities believe Arakawa died first, sometime around February 11 or 12.
Hackman likely wasn’t aware she had passed
Because of his Alzheimer’s, Hackman likely had no clue what happened or what to do. His pacemaker last showed activity on February 18, meaning he probably died that day.
It wasn’t until February 26 that sheriff’s deputies found their bodies.
Betsy Arakawa died from a rare virus
The medical examiner determined that Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
It’s a rare illness that spreads through contact with rodents — mainly through their urine, saliva, or droppings. It doesn’t pass from person to person, and dogs aren’t at risk of getting it.
A CDC source said that there weren’t any clear signs of rodents inside the couple’s main house.
But some of the other buildings on the property — a garage and two casitas — were a different story. There, they found rodent droppings and other signs of infestation.
Her last days seemed normal
Up until her death, Arakawa was still going about her daily routine. On February 9, she picked up their dog, Zinna, from the vet.
On February 11, she ran errands, going to Sprouts Farmers Market, CVS, and a pet store before heading home. Security footage showed her returning just after 5:15 p.m. That was the last known sighting of her.
Detectives are still working on getting all the data from her phone, but they know the last time she used it was February 11.
Hackman had been struggling with health issues
Hackman had been dealing with heart disease and Alzheimer’s. Back in 1990, he had an angioplasty after suffering from angina — chest pain caused by restricted blood flow to the heart.
Then, in 2012, he was hit by a pickup truck while riding his bike. His publicist later said he walked away with just “a few bumps and bruises.”
Hollywood mourns the loss of a legend
Hackman’s death hit hard for fans and fellow actors. Known for his tough-but-likable presence, Hackman was one of the greatest actors of his time. Over the years, he took on all kinds of roles — villains, heroes, and everything in between — in dozens of dramas, comedies, and action films.
The two-time Oscar winner had an unforgettable career, from his gritty role in The French Connection to playing the villainous Lex Luthor in Superman. He was also loved for Hoosiers, The Royal Tenenbaums, and Unforgiven.
He finally stepped away from Hollywood in the early 2000s.
How long was Hackman alone?
Given his advanced Alzheimer’s, it’s possible Hackman didn’t realize his wife had died. If she passed around February 11 or 12 and he was still alive until at least February 18, he may have spent a week alone, unaware of what happened.
Dr. Heather Jarrell, Chief Medical Investigator for the state of New Mexico said:
“Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer´s disease. He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that’s what resulted in his death.”
Zinna’s final days
In a full timeline of events, officials said Arakawa had picked up their dog, Zinna, from the vet hospital on February 9 after the dog received treatment.
Zinna was found dead inside a crate in the house. Officials believe she was placed there after receiving treatment. Her exact time of death is unknown.
The mystery still lingers
Authorities ruled Hackman’s death as natural and Arakawa’s as a rare viral infection. But some details — like how she contracted hantavirus or why Hackman was found days later — still leave people wondering.
The case may be closed, but something about it still doesn’t sit right.
Last Updated on March 7, 2025 by Reem Haqqi
