The actor Gene Hackman, a two-time Oscar winner and Hollywood legend, died from a heart problem complicated by Alzheimer's disease symptoms at the age of 95. A week earlier, in the same house, his wife and caregiver, Betsy Arakawa, a 64-year-old pianist, had died from hantavirus, a lung syndrome caused by mouse feces.
Ten days after an employee discovered the lifeless bodies in an advanced state of decomposition and mummification and alerted the police, forensic experts concluded that the couple had died in an unusual manner, but without any signs of foul play. Although the authorities had not found any traces of violence, the fact that the house's door was open, along with the discovery of a dog's body next to hers, found in the bathroom surrounded by pills, raised enough doubts to initiate an investigation.
Initial hypotheses pointed to a possible carbon monoxide poisoning, but tests conducted by firefighters and the gas company came back negative. The narrative presented by investigators on Friday is more complex and sad. The chief medical investigator, Dr. Heather Jarrell, explained that their working hypothesis is that Hackman, a hypertensive individual with symptoms "of an advanced Alzheimer's disease", may not have been aware that his partner and caregiver had passed away. "He was in very poor health. He had a significant heart disease and had suffered heart attacks in the past, and I believe that ultimately led to his death," she stated at a press conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where they had been living since the 90s. The identified disease was cardiovascular atherosclerosis, a buildup of fats and cholesterol.
His wife's case is much more unusual. The autopsy revealed that she died from hantavirus, an infectious and rare pulmonary syndrome that initially presents flu-like symptoms but rapidly progresses, causing cardiac and pulmonary issues. According to the doctor, infections are common starting in the spring, especially if individuals are near mouse droppings in poorly ventilated areas. The pills found were thyroid medication.
During the briefing, authorities explained that it is "highly unusual" to disclose details of this type of investigation, but the bizarre circumstances, combined with the couple's popularity, warranted being "as precise as possible in disseminating information," as various theories, including delusional ones about how Hackman, who could barely move or remember anything, might have been murdered to cover up alleged information he had decided to make public about the Epstein case. The details revealed today are unlikely to dispel rumors and twisted hypotheses, but rather fuel them further.
The Police have determined that the most likely date of Arakawa's death was around February 11, when she replied to an email from her masseuse and left the house for the last time, running errands in the city, including buying pet food. She did not check her email again. Hackman's pacemaker data, which tested negative for hantavirus, provided more certainty that he died near the entrance of the house on the 18th, a week after and a week before their remains were found. The house had no cameras, and they lived in a very private area with minimal contact with the outside world.
Sheriff Adan Mendoza mentioned that they are awaiting the full analysis of the two mobile phones found on the property, but it is "highly unlikely that they will reveal anything more," as there are "no indications" that Hackman used a mobile phone or any other technology to communicate with anyone, including his children. The same applies to the necropsy of the couple's dog, Zinna, an Australian kelpie that was with her owner in the bathroom. Results will be available in the coming days. Erin Phipps, a state veterinarian, stated that the couple's house had a "low risk" of hantavirus exposure, but there were signs of rodents in other structures on the property. The couple's two German Shepherds were safe and sound.