Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa Hackman’s Causes of death were revealed By Sante Fe, officials from New Mexico on Friday, but Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed that the investigation into the case is underway.
During a press conference that discovered more than a week after the bodies of the couple were discovered in their house on 26 February, Chief Medical Investigator Dr. Heather Jarrell announced that the cause of death of that hypertensive atherosclerosis was cardiovascular disorders, with Alzheimer’s disease as an important contributing factor. She confirmed that Betsy died of pulmonary syndrome of the Hantavirus, a disease that is transferred from animals to people often found in rodents.
Jarrell said it was “reasonable to conclude” that Betsy, 65, died on or around 11 February, while Gene, 95, was probably only in the house for about a week, until he died around February 18, which was the last time that activity was recorded on his Pacemaker.
Gene Hackman Death Investigation Timeline: Detectives are ‘backwards’ to determine how pair died
Although Mendoza said he thought “many of the questions were answered,” he stated that the authorities will continue their research because they were awaiting the Hackmans’ mobile phone records, as well as the results of a necropsia that is performed on the dog Zina of the couple, who was also found dead in house.
“We consider this an open investigation until we close the meshes of the mobile phones, until we finish the necropsier results of the dogs and the other loose ends we have to attach,” he said during the press conference.
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa Hackman’s causes of death were revealed, but Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed that the investigation is underway. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella collection via Getty Images)
“But you know, I think we are fairly close to the timeline and with the information that Dr. Jarrell has provided,” added Mendoza.
Detectives mentioned two mobile phones among the items they removed from the house, according to the inventory of Fox News Digital, according to the inventory of Fox News.
During the press conference, Mendoza said he thought it was “very unlikely” that the records of the mobile phone would reveal something different than what the authorities had already established with regard to the timeline of the dead.
Mendoza also confirmed that there was no evidence that Gene had communicated with someone while he was A week alive In the house after the death of Betsy.
“I don’t know if he used mobile phones or technology or e -mails, there is no indication of that,” he said reporters. “So now there is no activity from Mr. Hackman.”
Mendoza said that researchers were awaiting mobile phone records and the results of a necropsia performed on the dog of the couple, which was also found dead. (Derek shook for Fox News Digital)
Mendoza also provided a timeline of Betsy’s activities and communication prior to 11 February, the last day she was known to live.
During the investigation, officers discovered that Betsy Zina had picked up from the Gruda Veterinary Hospital in Santa Fe on 9 February. Authorities have previously shown that that Zinna was found In a crate that was in a cupboard about “10 to 15” base away from where Betsy’s body was found on the floor of the bathroom.
“There was a procedure that was done with the dog who can explain why the dog was in a crate,” explained Mendoza.
The other surviving dogs of the couple, Beer and Nikita, were found on the site. According to the sworn explanation, “one of the healthy dogs was initially observed near the deceased woman (in the bathroom) and the other healthy dog ​​was observed outside the house.”
Authorities believe that Betsy died a week before Gene died. (Getty Images)
While he had detailed the timeline of Betsy’s movements, Mendoza said that detectives and e -mail communication between the concert pianist and her massage therapist from 11:21 am on 11 February.
Gene Hackman Death: Full coverage
“Mrs. Arakawa was in the afternoon and was Farmers Market between 3.30 pm and 4.15 pm on the Sprouts,” said Mendoza. From there, Surveillance Videy has recorded around 4.20 pm at the local CFS pharmacy
Countless e -mails received on 11 February remained unopened on her computer.
“There was no extra outgoing communication from her, or well -known activity, after 11 February 2025,” said Mendoza, adding that “mobile phone information and the data from the mobile phone are being processed.”
Jarrell explained that during the press conference Hantavirus is characterized Due to “flu -like symptoms consisting of fever, muscle pain, cough, sometimes vomiting and diarrhea that can continue to shortness of breath and heart failure or heart failure and lung failure.”
“I don’t know when she started to feel sick,” Jarrell said about Betsy. “And those are just things that I don’t know will ever have the answers. But I think that goes back to that first time period, about 3 to 6 days are sick and then collapse fairly quickly after liquid starts to build in the lungs.”
Mendoza was asked if it was known whether Betsy had communicated with family or friends that she felt unwell before her death.
“Again, we go through part of the communication, and I think the mobile phones have some instructions before the 11th,” he said. “But from this moment on I have no information that she indicates that she felt sick during some communication.”
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The Hackmans had three dogs, two of whom survived. (Animal Rescue, Inc.)
At the start of the press conference, Mendoza said Zina had been brought to the veterinary diagnostic services of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture for a necropsia.
When it was likely that Zinna died as a result of hunger or dehydration, given that she was crated, Dr. Erin Phipps, New Mexico State veterinarian at the New Mexico Department of Health: “I don’t think we know the answer to that.”
“Given the timelines presented, there is a possibility,” she added.
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Phipps also clarified that Zina had not died of the Hantavirus because she claimed that dogs were not getting sick from the disease.
Detectives initially described the death of the couple as “suspected of nature to require a thorough search and research.” (Getty Images)
She explained that the State has confirmed every year between one and seven cases of the rare infection in people and ending in 2024.
“Over the past 50 years we have identified 136 infections in residents of New Mexico, five of them in Santa Fe County,” said Phipps. “This is a serious disease. Forty -two percent of these infections here in New Mexico were fatal.”
Initially detectives described the death of the couple As “suspected of nature to require a thorough search and research,” said a explanation of the search order obtained by FOX News Digital.
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Tracy Wright and Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report.
