Relatives and friends have said goodbye to late Hollywood actor Gene Hackman and his pianist wife Betsy Arakawa at a private memorial service in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been laid to rest close to two months after their bodies were discovered in their New Mexico home.
People magazine reported that friends and family said goodbye to the Hollywood legend and his pianist wife in a private memorial held in Santa Fe. The French Connection actor’s three children – son Christopher, 65, and daughters Elizabeth, 63, and Leslie, 58, from his marriage to Faye Maltese – were among the mourners.
The couple were found dead at their home on February 26 along with one of their dogs. Hackman and Arakawa’s bodies were discovered in separate rooms and the dog’s remains were found in a crate, where it had been recovering from surgery.
The mysterious deaths left a lot of questions, and led to speculation about possible carbon monoxide poisoning. However, this was later ruled out.
It was later determined that Arakawa succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare respiratory disease that can be carried by rodents, around February 12. Her date of death was initially given as February 11, but doubt was cast on that after it emerged she had placed a call the following day.
A private healthcare clinic in New Mexico said she rang them on February 12, regarding an appointment that was not related to the hantavirus. It’s now thought that she passed away later that day.
Hackman had a pacemaker and as it last registered a reading on February 18, it’s assumed he died then. His cause of death was heart disease, with advanced Alzheimer’s a contributing factor. Experts have suggested that, because of the Alzheimer’s, he may not have been aware that his wife had died in their home.
The couple’s dog, which was named Zinna, was in a crate recovering from an op and died as a result of dehydration and starvation. Two other dogs were found alive at the property.
Some records related to the deaths and investigation have been released and revealed that Arakawa was looking up health issues online in the days before she died. She looked for information on flu-like symptoms and breathing techniques, as well as Covid symptoms.
The New Mexico Department of Public Health conducted an assessment on the late star’s property following the deaths. According to TMZ, the department’s findings revealed that the Hackman property was a “breeding ground” for the hantavirus, which can be spread through rodent urine and droppings.
Live and dead rodents and nests were reportedly seen in several of the house’s outbuildings. There was also evidence of rodents in two farm vehicles on the property and traps were found in outbuildings.
However, Hackman and Arakawa’s actual home was deemed to be low risk, with no evidence of any rodent activity found inside the property.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
