Rodent Droppings Found To Be Cause Of Death Of Gene Hackman’s Wife, Betsy Arakawa

Baila Eve ZismanApril 16, 2025, 9:53 pmNews >

Dead rodents were found at the outbuildings of the New Mexico property where the late Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead.

Authorities found the couple deceased in their Santa Fe home in February. Arakawa, 65, is estimated to have died on Feb. 12 from a respiratory illness linked to hantavirus, which is transmitted through rodents. Hackman, 95, who had Alzheimer’s disease, lived in the house with his dead wife for a week before he himself passed on Feb. 18 from severe heart disease.

They were discovered on Feb. 26 along with their deceased dog Zinna. Two more of their dogs were found roaming the property.

A week later on March 5, an environmental assessment of the property was conducted. The investigation found rodent droppings, in addition to both dead and alive rodents and nests in three garages, two small external houses and three sheds.

Hantavirus is primarily transmitted to humans through inhalation of airborne particles from dried rodent feces. While cases of HPS are relatively rare, the CDC warns that if respiratory symptoms develop during hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, the mortality rate is roughly 38%. The risk assessment testing was conducted to ensure that investigators, family members, first responders and others with access to the home were safe while inside.

The eight individual outbuildings are all within 50 years of the main house where Hackman and Arakawa lived, which showed no signs of rodent activity.

A friend of the couple, Stephen Marshall, said in the ABC News Special documentary The Last Days of Gene Hackman, “I’m sure if Betsy knew how sick she was, she would’ve had some backup help. She probably thought she was going to get better. She wasn’t worried about herself. She was worried about taking care of Gene.”

Marshall remembered Arakawa, a classically trained pianist, “Betsy was just a lovely and charming woman…she had been with Gene since she was pretty young. He was very proud of her accomplishments. She had played with the Honolulu Philharmonic Orchestra.”

Another friend, Kevin Bobolosky, remembered Hackman, “He was a gentle giant, very calm…Betsy, I think, mostly did all the cooking and cleaning on this big estate out of love. She just adored him. So they had everything they wanted.”

Hackman and Arakawa were married in 1991. Hackman left his entire estate to Arakawa, and now his kids are battling for the funds.