New information has surfaced regarding the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa Hackman, which has led to a shift in the timeline of events. According to ABC News, it has been revealed that Betsy contacted a medical service the morning after it was previously believed she had passed away. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that on the early hours of Feb. 12, Betsy reached out to Cloudberry, a medical concierge service offering doctors to patients in need. A doctor from Cloudberry confirmed that Betsy had made contact with their office on Feb. 12. Initially, Betsy was thought to have died on Feb. 11 due to Hantavirus, a rare virus transmitted through rodent droppings, as determined by New Mexico’s chief medical examiner, Heather Jarrell. She was last seen in public on the same day, as confirmed by Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza.
It is speculated that Betsy may have been seeking medical advice or assistance as she was not feeling well, based on the new information. The Hackmans were discovered deceased in their home on Feb. 26, with their bodies in an advanced state of decomposition. Gene Hackman, aged 95, passed away from severe heart disease, high blood pressure, and advanced Alzheimer’s disease, likely around Feb. 18, approximately one week after Betsy’s death. Authorities believe Gene was alone in the house with Betsy’s body for several days.
The couple’s dog, Zinna, was also found deceased, crated in a closet near Betsy’s body. A necropsy report revealed that Zinna likely died from dehydration and starvation. There is no evidence of foul play in the deaths of Gene and Betsy, and carbon monoxide and gas poisoning have been ruled out as potential causes.
The couple’s cause of death was not determined to be related to a small gas leak found on one of their stovetops. However, Erin Phipps, a veterinarian from the New Mexico Health Department, identified signs of “rodent entry” on the premises. The main house was assessed as having a “low” risk despite this discovery. To read more, visit the original article on People.
