New Evidence Reshapes Timeline of Tragic Deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa

Authorities have recently unveiled crucial new information that significantly alters the timeline surrounding the tragic deaths of Academy Award-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa. The couple was discovered deceased last month in their New Mexico residence, with investigators suggesting that they had been dead for an extended period before being found by neighborhood security.

Initially, officials estimated that Betsy passed away on February 11, with Gene following just a week later. However, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office has now confirmed that Betsy made multiple attempts to contact a local health clinic on February 12 seeking medical assistance. Unfortunately, due to a lack of an established doctor-patient relationship, she was unable to receive the care she sought.

Analysis of cell phone data revealed that Betsy placed three calls to Cloudberry Health, a personalized medical practice in the vicinity, on the morning of February 12. She also received an additional call from the clinic. Previously, authorities had only stated that Betsy's last known activities occurred on February 11, which included exchanging emails with a massage therapist and visiting various local businesses before returning home that evening around 5:15 PM.

Dr. Josiah Child, head of Cloudberry Health, noted that while the clinic had never treated the couple, Betsy had reached out regarding some congestion. She expressed no urgent symptoms such as respiratory distress or chest pains during these calls. Initially, Betsy had scheduled an appointment for February 12 but canceled it the day before, citing the need to care for her husband.

Tragically, both Betsy and Gene were found dead on February 26. Chief Medical Investigator Dr. Heather Jarrell suggested that it is reasonable to conclude that Betsy likely passed away first. The medical examiner determined her cause of death was hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a grave rodent-borne disease that attacks the respiratory system. Gene's estimated time of death, based on pacemaker activity, places it on February 18, coinciding with a recorded abnormal heart rhythm.

Hackman's cause of death was attributed to severe heart disease, with advanced Alzheimer's disease noted as a contributing factor. Experts surmise that the effects of Alzheimer’s might have impeded Gene's recognition of his wife’s death, potentially leading him to experience confusion, grief, and attempts to rouse her in the days that followed.

Compounding the tragedy, a necropsy report indicated that one of the couple's three dogs, which had been crated due to recent surgery, died of starvation and dehydration during this same period.

As the investigation unfolds, representatives for the Hackman-Arakawa estate have taken steps to legally prevent the release of body camera footage and other visual documentation related to the circumstances surrounding their discovery. A New Mexico judge has issued a temporary restraining order against this release, with a court hearing scheduled for March 31.

The shocking details surrounding the couple's demise continue to draw attention, raising questions about the challenges faced by caregivers in managing health crises, especially in the face of deteriorating medical conditions like Alzheimer's.