The Sad End of Gene Hackman’s Wife Betsy: Her Final Days Spent Battling a Fatal Rat Disease and Leaving the 95-Year-Old Movie Star Alone and Confused in Death

According to a new report, Gene Hackman’s wife Betsy Arakawa may have been weak and dying in their luxury home from a rare rat disease while her husband, who was disoriented and struggling with dementia, was unable to assist her. 

Authorities are slowly beginning to piece together Arakawa’s movements in the days leading up to her death. 

On February 9, Arakawa picked up their dog Zinna from the vet after the canine had an operation, as stated by Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza. 

The discovery of their cherished 12-year-old Australian Kelpie mix dead in a crate near Arakawa’s body may provide some explanation for the situation.

Police confirmed on Friday that Arakawa, 65, succumbed to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in her bathroom somewhere around February 11.

That day, possibly hours before her death, Arakawa sent an email to her massage therapist before visiting a grocery store in the afternoon, The New York Times reported.

She was also caught on CCTV visiting a pharmacy where she was wearing a face mask, which friends often said she did to avoid transporting any illnesses to her medically vulnerable, older husband.  

Arakawa also stopped at a local pet food store later the same afternoon before returning to her local area at approximately 5.15 pm, the sheriff said.

Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Hackman pictured at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 21, 1994 at Morton’s Restaurant in West Hollywood, California 

Hackman, 95, died from heart disease a week after his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65 (pictured in 2024) succumbed to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome – and police said the Alzheimer’s stricken star may not have known she was dead

Hackman and Arakawa, who were married for more than 30 years, with two unidentified dogs. One of their dogs Zinna was found dead at their home in a crate 

She did not respond to any emails after that day, leading police to believe that was the period in which she passed. 

Arakawa died of a lung infection spread from rats, authorities revealed yesterday in the latest twist in the case.

Medical investigators in New Mexico said in a press conference Friday that Arakawa, 65, was infected with hantavirus which caused a deadly build-up of fluid in her lungs, known medically as hentavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS).

HPS is so rare in the US that only one or two people die every year, and there have only been around 1,000 cases in the past three decades, mostly among farmers, hikers and campers and homeless populations.

The virus is spread through the inhalation of airborne particles containing the virus, which is typically found in the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents.

HPS, which initially presents with flu like symptoms, can progress rapidly, leading to breathing problems, low blood pressure, and organ failure.

The scene of chaos in the bathroom tells a grim tale of a swift decline by Arakawa.

She was found lying on the floor with her head next to a space heater with thyroid medication pills scattered around her.

Unforgiven star Hackman may have wandered around the sprawling 9000 square foot home (pictured), lost and confused, for seven days with the couple’s dogs running loose

And shockingly, Arakawa may have caught the ultra-rare but deadly virus from the garage of the couple’s mansion, experts have said. 

DailyMail.com understands that while there was no rodent activity in the main house, there were rodent droppings in the couple’s garage and outhouses.

Specialists told this website Arakawa could have picked HPS up from cleaning those areas.

Hackman and Arakawa’s dog was also found dead in the house. Authorities note that while there is evidence that dogs can catch the virus, the animals do not show symptoms and there are no recorded cases of them passing the virus on to human

Unforgiven star Hackman may have wandered around the sprawling 9000 square foot home, lost and confused, for seven days – without his partner of three decades by his side to feed and care for him, or look after their three treasured dogs,

Left to fend for himself and with his wife’s body decomposing in their bathroom, Hackman, who was already in ‘very poor health’, went without food.

An autopsy showed his stomach was empty at the time of his death.

Hackman was found dead with his cane and sunglasses by his side in a room just off the kitchen following an apparent fall – hinting he may have been on his way out of the home before his weak heart gave in.

His pacemaker’s last recorded activity was on February 18 – but help would not arrive until over a week later.

The reclusive couple’s dogs, who were lovingly cared for by the couple, were also left alone.

Their pet Zinna, who had been picked up by Arakawa from a veterinary hospital on February 9 – two days before her death – was found dead in a a kennel in a bathroom closet about 10 to 15 feet from Arakawa’s partially mummified remains.

Officials believe the animal had been crated due to the recent medical care it had received.

A German Shepherd named Bear and a second dog named Nikita were found running around the 12 acre property – with a dog door allowing them access to food and water.