When Gene Hackman was discovered lifeless on February 26, alongside together with his spouse Betsy Arakawa and one in all their three canines, it opened up an ongoing investigation with extra questions than solutions. As increasingly unusual issues about Hackman’s loss of life start to seem, with every new element coming to mild, there’s a fair heavier sense of tragedy behind all of it. Whereas it was recognized that Hackman had been struggling together with his well being for some time, the 95-year-old’s passing has made it clear there was much more to the story. In actual fact, in line with new info offered to USA Right now, it seems that Hackman and Arakawa died days aside.

With officers ruling out monoxide poisoning and indicators of pressured entry or foul play, their deaths have been puzzling. The New Mexico Workplace of the Medical Investigator mentioned Arakawa died from a uncommon illness referred to as Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Per the CDC, Hantaviruses “are unfold primarily by rodents,” and it is uncommon for the illness to unfold from human to human. The identical workplace mentioned that Hackman handed away from issues as a result of his Alzheimer’s and coronary heart illness.

The medical investigator additionally urged that Arakawa died first, most probably round February 11, which means that Hackman was spending time in his home together with his deceased spouse, most probably unaware of the scenario. Whereas there are nonetheless many unfastened ends to tie up, there is a bit extra info relating to how the final days of Arakawa and Hackman have been spent.

With Betsy Arakawa and Gene Hackman becoming a member of the tragic listing of celebrities who’ve handed away in 2025, how they spent their previous couple of days alive is all of the extra morbid. In accordance with a timeline put collectively by USA Right now, Arakawa was final seen exterior of the home working errands on February 11. There’s footage of her carrying a masks whereas buying at Sprouts Farmers Market and CVS — a sign she may have already been feeling the results of Hantavirus. It seems that she returned house shortly after 5 p.m. and was by no means seen or heard from afterwards.

How Hackman spent his last days is a little more shrouded, because the actor hadn’t left the home. Investigators talked about he was not affected by dehydration on the time of loss of life, which signifies he was in a position to look after himself bodily in his last days. Investigators additionally counsel that, as a result of Hackman’s tragic struggles with Alzheimer’s, there’s an excellent likelihood he was unaware he was sharing the home together with his deceased spouse.

Extra info is certain to be on its approach, as there’s nonetheless an post-mortem scheduled for the canine discovered lifeless in the home, which could higher assist flesh out the timeline of occasions. Nevertheless the tragedy unfolded, it leaves a harrowing image behind.