Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s Property Was Breeding Ground for Hantavirus

An environmental assessment of Gene Hackman’s home after the deaths of the late icon and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, revealed rodent infestation in outbuildings and garages, it has been revealed.

The New Mexico Department of Public Health conducted a “homesite environmental assessment” on 5 March, a week after Hackman and Arakawa’s bodies were found at their home in Santa Fe, and that rodent faeces, a live rodent, a dead rodent, and a rodent nest.

On March 7, New Mexico’s chief medical investigator said that Arakawa, 65, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome while Hackman, 95, died of heart disease some days later, with advanced Alzheimer’s disease contributing. Hantavirus is a rare but potentially fatal disease spread by infected rodent droppings.

According to the report, the property contained eight outbuildings that showed signs of infestation, while the main house was “clean”, with no signs of infestation. However, there were sightings of rodents, a nest, and feces on vehicles on the property, and live traps were found in the outbuildings.

The assessment was carried out to determine the level of hazard to first responders and emergency personnel, and concluded the level of risk in the main residence was “low”.