The world was stunned at the end of February when the bodies of the two-time Oscar-winning star Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, were found in their Santa Fe mansion. Now, shocking new details about their mansion have just come to light.
Hackman And Arakawa’s Mansion Infestation
New reports have revealed that Hackman and Arakawa’s $4 million mansion was infested with rats. This made it a “breeding ground” for hantavirus, the disease that ultimately killed Arakawa.
This was revealed when the New Mexico Department of Public Health conducted a health assessment on the property one week after Hackman and Arakawa’s bodies were found on February 26. Officials concluded that dead rodents and their nests were found in “eight detached outbuildings” on the property.
Daily Mail reported that “the deadly hantavirus typically spreads through rodent urine and droppings that one may come into contact with when cleaning a basement or an attic.”
Officials found droppings in three garages, two casitas, and three sheds on the Santa Fe property. They also found a live rodent, dead rodent and a rodent nest in three additional garages on the property.
On top of that, two vehicles on the property were found to have evidence of rodents. Traps were found in various buildings as well, indicating that the Hackmans were aware of this issue.
Related: Gene Hackman, 95, Was ‘Murdered,’ Hollywood Legend Randy Quaid Alleges
The Rare Hantavirus
Hantavirus is extremely rare in the U.S., as there are less than 50 cases reported each year. After Arakawa died, however, three more people died of hantavirus in Mammoth Lakes, California.
Investigators say that symptoms of hantavirus include flu-like illness, headaches, dizziness and severe respiratory distress. Arakawa’s computer has shown that she was actively researching medical conditions related to COVID-19 and flu-like symptoms in the days before her death.
The bodies of Arakawa and Hackman were found on February 26. Arakawa likely passed away on February 12, which was when she made her last phone call. By the time she was found dead, her remains had mummified.
Hackman was then in the mansion alone with her body for several days before succumbing to heart failure. It is believed that he died around February 18. The actor was also suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s disease. This means he may have been unaware or unable to understand that his wife had died.
Related: Gene Hackman’s Wife Feared Being Followed By Mystery Man Before She And Her Husband Were Found Dead
Hackman And Arakawa’s History
Hackman and Arakawa had been married since 1991. They had no children together, but Hackman had three children from a previous marriage. Hackman’s will, which he made in 1995, listed Arakawa as his sole inheritor.
Meanwhile, her will specifically stated that if she and Hackman were to die within 90 days of one another, their $80 million fortune should be donated to charity. It is believed that a legal battle is about to ensue that will see Hackman’s children try to get their hands on the money.
Hackman retired from acting in 2004. He was rarely seen publicly in the final two decades of his life. Instead, he was reclusive in the mansion that he shared with Arakawa.
The more details that come to light about these deaths, the stranger this case gets. Please join us in saying a prayer for Hackman and Arakawa’s loved ones as they continue to mourn them both.
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