Gene Hackman and Wife Die Amid Rodent Infestation

The deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were tied to a serious rodent infestation at their Santa Fe, New Mexico estate, where health officials discovered numerous dead rodents, droppings, and nests across eight outbuildings. An environmental assessment by the New Mexico Department of Public Health revealed that Arakawa, 65, succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare and often fatal illness transmitted through rodent droppings and urine, while Hackman, 95, died from heart disease exacerbated by Alzheimer's. Investigators found no rodent activity in the main house, but the outbuildings and two vehicles showed significant signs of rodent presence, indicating a 'breeding ground' for hantavirus. Hackman and Arakawa were found deceased on February 26, with Arakawa believed to have died first, possibly unknown to Hackman due to his health condition. The investigation underscores the health risk posed by rodent infestations, as hantavirus cases, although rare, have a high mortality rate.