Gene Hackman Case: Betsy Arakawa Had Fluid In Her Lungs Before Death
More details have come to light about Betsy Arakawa's health in the time leading up to her death.
After Gene Hackman and his wife of 33 years were found dead inside their Santa Fe home, authorities found that Arakawa had fluid in her lungs, according to her autopsy report obtained by The Associated Press.
The report, released April 29, showed that the 65-year-old had fluid accumulated in her chest, as well as mild hardening of the vessels that supply blood to the heart and body, per the outlet. The documents confirmed that she tested negative for COVID and the flu, her carbon monoxide levels were within a normal range and she showed no signs of trauma.
Arakawa's cause of death was found to be hantavirus pulmonary syndrome—a respiratory illness that is transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents—the documents confirmed.
Previously, officials had found evidence of dead and live rodents across eight buildings on their sprawling property, according to Department of Public Health records, per CNN.
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While their primary residence—where the bodies of Arakawa and Hackman and one of their dogs' bodies were found—didn't show signs of rodent activity, investigators also found nests and feces across their three garages, two casitas and three sheds.
After Arakawa's death, Hackman, 95, died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease as a significant contributing factor, according to a postmortem examination from the Office of the Medical Investigator obtained by NBC News.
After their bodies were discovered, the couple's loved ones shared that they believe Arakawa, who was also Hackman's caretaker, likely didn't realize how sick she was. After all, only 122 cases of hantavirus were reported in New Mexico from 1993 to 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"I'm sure if Betsy knew how sick she was, she would've had some backup help," Stephen Marshall speculated in the Last Days of Gene Hackman: ABC News Special documentary. "She probably thought she was going to get better. She wasn't worried about herself. She was worried about taking care of Gene."
Indeed, the couple's friends emphasized that Arakawa and Hackman, who wed in 1991, had a romance made for the silver screen.
"He was a gentle giant, very calm," Kevin Bobolosky said of Hackman in the special. "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."
For a closer look at Hackman and Arakawa's deaths, keep reading.
(E! and NBC News are part of the NBCUniversal family.)
Gene Hackman and Wife Betsy Arakawa Found Dead Feb. 26, 2025Gene Hackman Death Deemed "Suspicious Enough" to Conduct InvestigationItems of Interest Found in Gene Hackman's HomeA Timeline Slowly Comes Into FocusGene Hackman's Family Speaks OutInside Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's Private Life in Santa FeCarbon Monoxide Poisoning, Gas Leak Ruled OutCause of Death Determined for Gene Hackman, Betsy ArakawaHeartbreaking Death Timeline RevealedWhy Gene Hackman Couldn't Live Without His WifeUnexpected Timeline Twist
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