Just about a week ago, authorities in the New Mexico city where acting legend Gene Hackman and his wife (and their three dogs) were living and enjoying their lives released an update on what was known about their “suspicious” deaths. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza shared what was known to that point, after initial autopsies of the couple were completed by a pathologist at the state’s Office of the Medical Investigator.
“In the early hours of Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, Mr. Hackman and Ms. Arakawa were transported to the office of the medical investigator. An autopsy was performed. Initial findings noted no external trauma to either individual.”
The manner and cause of death is not known, with the official results of the autopsy and toxicology reports pending.
Mendoza said he spoke on Friday at 2:00 p.m. local time with the pathologist from the state office of the medical investigator. The doctor told him that several of the tests were submitted on an expedited basis.
“She revealed to me the following information: Both individuals tested negative for carbon monoxide.
“An initial interrogation was conducted of Mr. Hackman’s pacemaker. This revealed that his last event was recorded on Feb. 17, 2025,” but that a “more thorough investigation will be completed.”
To catch anyone up to speed who needs it, here are some of the basics on the mysterious story:
As we reported on Thursday, legendary Hollywood actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, 65, along with one of their dogs, were found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Wednesday.
My colleague Jennifer O’Connell wrote a beautiful piece just hours after news of Hackman’s death broke, on his storied and influential career on the silver screen, also.
Now, we know what caused the deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa, according to NM officials:
On Friday, New Mexico’s chief medical examiner shared how the couple died.
Arakawa, 65, died from Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease that is contracted by contact with mouse droppings, the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator announced Friday. According to the CDC, Hantaviruses “are spread mainly by rodents and are not spread from person-to-person.” And Hackman, 95, had heart disease and complications caused by Alzheimer’s disease and died from natural causes.
…
Hackman’s pacemaker last showed activity on Feb. 18, according to the medical investigator, so Hackman “probably died around Feb. 18,” with the medical investigator noting Hackman “was in a very poor state of health” at the time of his death and she thinks “he died as a result of his heart disease.”
It appears that Arakawa died first, according to the medical investigator, likely around Feb. 11, the last time anyone had any communication from her.
Anyone who does the math in his or her head realizes this is a heartbreaking answer to the mystery. Hackman’s wife, who was likely also his caretaker in his later years, died about a week before him. With his Alzheimer’s, it may be he didn’t know what to do–or he might even been unaware of her passing.
Sheriff Mendoza explained that this isn’t the end of the case, with “other loose ends [investigators] need to tie up.” It’s considered an open investigation, he said.
Prayers for Hackman and his family and friends are needed at this time.
We’ll keep you posted on developments in the story.
UPDATE: Here are several more details from the medical examiner’s report, including about the dog that died:
Investigators were unclear how Hackman spent his last days. Jarrell said the autopsy showed that Hackman hadn’t eaten recently, but that he did not suffer from dehydration.
They couldn’t find that Hackman communicated with anyone after his wife died, but they didn’t know if he was able to take care of himself.
…
Hantavirus is now extremely rare, with only seven reported cases in New Mexico in 2024 according to the New Mexico Department of Health.
…
They later confirmed that the dead dog was found in a closed kennel. That dog, Zinna, was the one that Arakawa had picked up from the veterinarian’s office on Feb. 9. It was unclear if it had been in the kennel because of its treatment at the vet.
Here’s how authorities believe Arawaka spent her last days:
On Feb. 9 Arakawa picked up their dog Zinna from a veterinary hospital. Zinna was a 12-year-old reddish Australian Kelpie mixed-breed who had once trained in agility skills to compete at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. (That dog was later found dead in a kennel, and it’s possible the dog died from dehydration or starvation, the state veterinarian said, but a necropsy will be done.)
Two days later on Feb. 11, Arakawa had an email conversation with her massage therapist in the afternoon. By 3:30 p.m. she was at Sprouts Farmers Market and just after 4 p.m. she was at CVS.
“She was walking around, she was shopping, she was visiting stores,” Mendoza said of the camera footage which helped investigators track her last day. “My detectives didn’t indicate that there was any problem with her or struggle of her getting around.”
She was spotted at a pet store just before 5 p.m. on Feb. 11, and returned home just after 5:15 pm. accroding [sic] to security at her gated subdivision.
Every single day, here at RedState, we will stand up and FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT against the radical left and deliver the conservative reporting our readers deserve.
Help us continue to the truth about the Trump administration and its major wins. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership.
