An investigation into the deaths of Gene Hackman, wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog Zena remains open, police have revealed.
Oscar-winning actor Gene, 95, his classical pianist wife Betsy, 65, and one of their three dogs were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico mansion on February 26. The cause of death of Gene and Betsy was revealed by chief medical examiner Dr Heather Jarrell in an ‘ unprecedented ‘ press conference on Friday.
In the lead up to Dr Jarrell sharing the cause of death, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza opened the press conference and revealed the investigation remains open as the police await results of more examinations into their investigation.
He said in the press conference: “Zena, the deceased dog, has been taken for a necropsy at the veterinary diagnostic services and we’ll be awaiting those results”. A necropsy is a post-mortem examination performed on an animal.
Sheriff Mendoza later added: “Cell phone information and the cell phone data is pending, we’re working with state police to get the information from those phones but our investigation shows all the last communication and activity from Ms Arakawa was on February 11”.
While taking questions towards the end of the conference Sheriff Mendoza revealed he hopes the mobile phones will shed further light on the circumstances surrounding the couple’s deaths. When asked if police know if Betsy was feeling ill in the lead up to her death, Sheriff Mendoza said: “We’re going through some of the communications and I think the cell phones may have some indications of that prior to the 11th but, as of this moment, I don’t have any information that she was indicating that she was feeling ill during any communication”.
While answering another question he added: “We consider this an open investigation until we close the loopholes of the cell phones, until we finish out the necropsy results of the canine and other loose ends that we need to tie up but I think we’re pretty close with the timeline”.
In a details-filled press conference, Dr Jarrell explained that Betsy most likely died first, while Gene had died a week later – with his pacemaker recording information on February 18. The last known activities of Betsy were determined to take place on February 11 when she was last seen alive.
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”.
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Source: Mirror
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