In a quiet New Mexico home, a heartbreaking narrative unfolded as Betsy Arakawa, the wife of legendary actor Gene Hackman, desperately searched for ways to alleviate her husband's deteriorating health, only to meet her own tragic end. Arakawa passed away due to complications from hantavirus on February 12, followed by Hackman's death from Alzheimer's disease and heart complications roughly a week later.
The couple's final days have been pieced together through digital records and investigation reports by New Mexico officials. Arakawa's internet browsing history from February 8 to 12 revealed her growing concern for Hackman, who had been battling advanced Alzheimer's disease. She searched for symptoms of COVID-19, which can include nosebleeds and dizziness, and even administered a COVID test to Hackman, which turned out negative. Despite taking precautionary measures, it seems she was also monitoring signs of her own deteriorating condition.
In her last attempt to seek help for her husband, Arakawa reached out to her masseuse via email, questioning whether she should pursue external medical treatment. Store security footage from around the same time showed her purchasing Boost Oxygen canisters, likely to assist with Hackman's breathing difficulties. Her final internet search on February 12 for healthcare providers in Santa Fe indicates the urgency of the situation.
Sadly, investigators believe that shortly after this search, Arakawa succumbed to hantavirus, leaving her husband without care. Their deaths went unnoticed until a welfare check was conducted at their residence, revealing the somber scene of a caregiver's demise while attending to her spouse.
Gene Hackman, a two-time Oscar winner known for his roles in "The French Connection," "Unforgiven," and "The Royal Tenenbaums," retired from acting in 2004 and had since lived a quiet life with Arakawa. The couple's relationship began in the 1980s, leading to marriage in 1991 after Hackman's divorce from his first wife. Arakawa, a classical pianist and businesswoman, had been a steadfast companion to Hackman throughout his retirement years.
The tragedy of their deaths has been deeply felt by fans and the wider community, highlighting the challenges faced by caregivers and the dangers of diseases like hantavirus, which can progress rapidly from flu-like symptoms to respiratory failure.