Amid the controversial death of Hollywood icon Gene Hackman, a new report revealed that the actor’s wife died from a rare disease spread by infected rodents found on their New Mexico property.
See the tweet below.
An environmental assessment conducted at Hackman’s sprawling 6-acre estate after his and his wife’s deaths revealed alarming evidence of rodent infestations.
Health officials from New Mexico’s Department of Public Health found rodent feces, live and dead rodents, and even rodent nests throughout eight outbuildings on the property.
The assessment, conducted last month, came just a week after the couple’s bodies were found in their home.
The medical examiner determined that Hackman’s wife, 71-year-old Betsy Arakawa, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but deadly disease transmitted through contact with infected rodent droppings, urine, or saliva.
94-year-old Hackman died later from heart disease, with advanced Alzheimer’s disease listed as a contributing factor.
Moreover, evidence suggested the Hollywood star was tragically alone with his deceased wife for approximately a week before his own passing.
While the main residence was deemed clean with no signs of rodent activity, investigators discovered significant infestations in the property’s garages and outbuildings.
According to official reports, rodents, nests, and feces were found on vehicles throughout the property, and live traps had been set up in several outbuildings.
This indicates that the couple was aware of and attempting to address the rodent problem.
Likewise, medical experts warned that hantavirus kills quickly without prompt medical intervention.
“Then they can transition to that pulmonary phase, where they have fluid in their lungs and around their lungs,” a doctor said.
They continued, “And at that point, a person can die very quickly, within 24 to 48 hours, roughly speaking, without medical treatment.”
The timeline leading to the tragedy is particularly heartbreaking. Arakawa was last seen in public on February 11, visiting a grocery store and pet food store.
Text messages recovered from her phone showed she had been experiencing symptoms, writing that she “woke up today with flu/cold-like symptoms, did a COVID test, negative. But out of an abundance of caution, I should cancel.”
The couple lived privately in their 8,761 square foot home without housekeepers or regular visitors.
Signs of rodent activity, including a nest found in a detached garage, were found at Gene Hackman's New Mexico property after the actor's wife, Betsy Arakawa, died from a rare disease transmitted through rodents, according to a report. https://t.co/OzBcWoi9W0
— ABC News (@ABC) April 16, 2025
Hackman’s daughters had reported his declining health and unfamiliarity with modern technology, which likely contributed to the delay in discovering the emergency.
In addition, the bodies were only found after a maintenance worker and a security worker became concerned about Arakawa’s unusual silence and came to check on the couple.
Adding to the heartbreak, one of the couple’s dogs was found dead at the scene, likely from lack of food and water, while another was running loose on the property.
Investigators described the main house as tidy, noting, “Main dwelling clean with no signs of rodent activity,” highlighting that the deadly threat came from the outbuildings rather than their living space.
Ultimately, property owners across America should take immediate steps to protect themselves from this silent killer by sealing entry points to their homes and outbuildings and removing potential rodent food sources.
