Gene Hackman’s close friend has revealed how the Hollywood actor was dependent on his wife Betsy Arakawa in his later years.
The Oscar winning actor, 95, and his wife, 63, were tragically found dead at their New Mexico home alongside one of their three dogs. It has since emerged that Betsy most likely died first from hantavirus, with Gene – who had alzheimer’s – sadly dying a week later.
Tom Allin, who was a close friend of the Hollywood star, has revealed that Gene previously said he would have died “long ago” if Betsy wasn’t there to look after him. Speaking to The New York Times, he said: “She was very protective of him”.
Opening up about seeing his friend just before the pandemic in January 2020 for Gene’s 90th birthday, Mr Allin remembered seeing his wife mixing soda into his wine, explaining she “just really looked after him”. At the time, he also noticed that the Hollywood star was declining.
For Betsy’s birthday every year, Gene would cook dinner for her. However, Mr Allin said that she came home in 2023 and Gene had forgotten their tradition.
On Friday, authorities in New Mexico revealed the cause of death of both the Hollywood legend and his wife – who he had been married to since 1991. Dr Heather Jarrell, Chief Medical Examiner for New Mexico at the office of the Medical Investigator, shared the medical insights to the deaths.
The medical expert revealed: “The cause of death for Miss Betsy Hackman, aged 65 years, is hantavirus, pulmonary syndrome. The manner of death is natural, autopsy, examination and full body post mortem, CT demonstrated no findings of trauma, internally or externally, with microscopic findings consistent with Coronavirus pulmonary syndrome”.
Dr Jarrell explained that no trace of COVID 19 or influenza was found within Betsy. She added: “Testing for carbon monoxide was negative. There were no other significant natural disease findings. Pills present on scene, or thyroid medication, which were being taken as prescribed and is not currently a concern for a contributory cause of death”.
The authorities went on to explain that hantavirus can be transmitted by rats and that warnings were issued to those entering the property to reduce the risk of others becoming infected. It was explained: “We did identify signs of rodent entry and other structures on the property and provided information and resources mission related to those areas. Hantavirus can be transmitted to people through rodent urine, droppings or saliva, so it is important to take special steps when cleaning up after vermin, avoiding contact with or breathing in aerosolised rodent urine or faeces, especially in a poorly ventilated area, is key”.
Attention then turned to the death of Gene, with Dr Jarrell revealing that there were several causes of his death – but adding it could not be confirmed that heart failure had occurred. She also revealed that the star had battled Alzheimer’s disease ahead of his death.
Dr Jarrell explained: “The cause of death for Mr. Gene Hackman, 95 years, is hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor. Autopsy examination and a full body post mortem CT examination demonstrated no acute findings of internal or external trauma, and showed severe heart disease, including multiple surgical procedures involving the heart, evidence of prior heart attacks and severe changes of the kidneys due to chronic high blood pressure”.
She continued: “Examination of the brain showed advanced Alzheimer’s disease, as well as blood vessel changes in the brain secondary to chronic high blood pressure. Laboratory testing performed at scientific laboratories division was negative for COVID, 19, influenza and other common respiratory viruses. Testing for Hantavirus was negative. Testing for carbon monoxide was negative. Additionally, there were no autopsy findings concerning for Hantavirus infection”.
Earlier, a timeline of Betsy’s last known movements was uncovered, revealing she had emailed a massage therapist at approximately 11: 21am on 11 February and attended a local Farmers Market between 3: 30pm and 4: 15pm. She then visited a CVS Pharmacy in Santa Fe between 4: 12pm and 4: 20pm before then stopping at a local pet store at about 4: 54pm.
Police revealed CCTV footage showed her car returning home at 5: 15pm and that they discovered unopened emails dating from 11 February. Officers have petitioned phone companies to retrieve records of Gene and Betsy’s devices.
While the police did not specify an exact date of death of the musician, they noted that she had last been in public and active via email communication on 11 February. It was then revealed that Gene had died approximately a full week later – with the star’s pacemaker being a relatively reliable source of information.
Dr Jarrell revealed: “Mr. Hackman’s initial pacemaker data revealed cardiac activity on February 17, with subsequent pacemaker interrogation demonstrating an abnormal rhythm of atrial fibrillation on February 18, which was the last record of heart activity. Based on this information, it is reasonable to conclude that Mr. Hackman probably died around February 18”.
Insight was also shared into the death of a dog – whose body had also been found at the property last month. The couple’s pet, named Zinna, had been receiving treatment at a local veterinary practice and was retrieved by Betsy on the last day she was seen in public. Police surmised that the animal had undergone a procedure – with police stating: “]This] may explain why the dog was in a crate at the residence”.
Following the police statement, a member of the assembled press asked the authorities if it was possible Zinna had suffered from hantavirus too – however, Dr Jarrell firmly debunked the theory, stating that dogs cannot contract the disease.
Over the course of Friday’s update, an agonising timeline of Gene’s final days were laid out by the authorities. During a question and answer segment with members of the press, more details were revealed of what Gene’s final days could have been like.
Asked if he could have survived without his wife, Dr Jarrell said: “The answer to that question is that Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer’s disease. I’m not aware of what his normal daily functioning capability was. He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that is what resulted in his in his death”.
She added: “I was able to look at fluid to determine if he was dehydrated, and I did not see evidence of dehydration. I did see evidence of very poor kidney function, and I think he died as a result of his his heart disease, and with Alzheimer’s being that contributing factor”.
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