(NewsNation) — Dead rodents have been found through Gene Hackman’s New Mexico home after he and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, died, according to CNN.
Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, died one week apart before they were found in their home in February of this year. They were found by maintenance workers, who ended up contacting the police.
Medical examiners found that Arakawa had died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which is a rare disease that can lead to flu-like symptoms, headaches, dizziness and severe respiratory distress, according to The Associated Press.
Hackman died several days after Arakawa, due to a combination of heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and high blood pressure.
Rodents, nests found in Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa’s home: Reports
On March 5, staff from the New Mexico Department of Health conducted the risk assessment testing. Part of the reasoning behind this was to make sure investigators, first responders and family members who still came to the Santa Fe Summit home were safe from contracting hantavirus.
According to Phipps, the risk of exposure by being in the Hackman home was low. The report stated that the primary residence had no signs of rodents and was clean, CNN said.
CNN reported that rodent droppings were found in three of the detached garages, three sheds and two casitas during the homesite environmental assessment that officials did in March.
Officials reportedly found a live rodent, a dead rodent and a rodent’s nest in the three garages. The report also stated that rodents were able to access eight other buildings on Hackman’s property, and rodents were seen in two vehicles. There were allegedly live traps on the property as well.
What is Hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a sometimes fatal disease that comes with flu-like symptoms. It is spread to humans through the droppings from deer mice, which are prevalent in the Southwest. It is not transmitted from person to person.
“It takes four to six weeks once someone has contracted Hantavirus for the disease to become severe. But once it is severe, the person may well not last long and requires hospitalization, often in an intensive care unit,” forensics expert Stephen Cohle, the medical examiner for Kent County, Michigan, told “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.”
Cohle said that when a person is infected with hantavirus, they can die of respiratory failure.
“Obviously, the mice can get into the house, into anyone’s home. I think one would want to be very diligent about washing one’s hands and getting medical treatment soon after the onset of symptoms,” said Cohle.
According to PEOPLE, hantavirus reports are pretty rare. However, it is fatal in up to 42% of cases in New Mexico, according to New Mexico State Public Health Veterinarian Erin Phipps. Phipps, at the time, had said there had been fewer than 10 cases in the last five years in the state.
Betsy Arakawa was researching medical conditions: Report
On Tuesday, a report showed that Arakawa was actively researching medical conditions related to COVID-19 and flu-like symptoms between Feb. 8 and the morning of Feb. 12, according to AP. The searches included questions about whether or not COVID-19 could cause nosebleeds or dizziness.
She had also emailed her masseuse and said Hackman had woken up with flu-like symptoms on Feb. 11, but his COVID test was negative. She said she would need to reschedule her appointment for the following day, “out of an abundance of caution,” the Associated Press reported.
Arakawa also searched for a concierge medical service in the area on the morning of Feb. 12. Her phone records showed investigators that she called the service and had a phone call that lasted less than two minutes. Then, she missed a call from that service later in the afternoon.
Hackman and Arakawa got married in 1991 and were last pictured together in March of 2024, according to PEOPLE. Hackman won Oscars for “The French Connection” and “Unforgiven,” but retired in 2004 to live with his wife in Santa Fe.
Hackman and Arakawa were laid to rest in a private memorial for friends and family members, according to PEOPLE.