Gene Hackman, Wife Found Dead in Santa Fe Home

Hollywood actor Gene Hackman, who passed away at 95, spent his final days in distress and isolation after the death of his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65. Arakawa, who had been Hackman's caregiver due to his advanced Alzheimer's disease, succumbed to hantavirus, likely on February 11, leaving Hackman alone in their Santa Fe home. Authorities believe he may have wandered the house for several days before his death on February 18, unaware of her passing, as his health deteriorated due to heart disease and Alzheimer's. Their bodies were discovered on February 26 during a welfare check, with Hackman's found near his cane and slippers in a mudroom, and Arakawa in a bathroom with spilled medication. The tragic circumstances reflect a heartbreaking end to their 30-year partnership, compounded by the effects of illness and isolation. New Mexico’s chief medical examiner confirmed that Hackman’s cognitive decline contributed significantly to his inability to seek help during this time.