New Mexico official Sante Fe revealed the cause of death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa Hackman, but Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed that an investigation into the case is still underway.
More than a week after the couple’s body was found in their home on February 26, Chief Medical Investigator Dr. Heather Jarrell announced that Gene’s death was caused by hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with a will, and was found in their home for more than a week on February 26. Alzheimer’s disease As an important factor. She confirmed that Betsy died of Hanta Viral Pulmonary Syndrome, a disease that spreads from animals to humans and is usually found in rodents.
Jarrell said that “reasonably to conclude” that Betsy, 65, died around February 11, while Gene, 95, might have been alone at home for about a week until he died around February 18, the last activity on his pacemaker.
Gene Hackman Death Investigation Timeline: Detective ‘Backward’ Determined How Couple Dies
Mendoza said he believes “many questions have been answered,” he said authorities will continue to investigate as they are waiting for cell phone records of hackers and the results of a body check on the couple’s dog Zinna, who was also found dead in the house.
“We think it’s a public investigation until we shut down the vulnerability in our phones until we complete the results of the dog’s necross check and other loose ends we need to tie,” he said in a news conference.
The cause of death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa Hackman has been revealed, but Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed that the investigation is underway. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella is collected via Getty Images)
Mendoza added: “But, you know, I think we’re very close to the timeline and the information Dr. Jarrell provides.”
Detectives listed two cell phones among the items they took from the house, according to search warrant inventory obtained by Fox News Digital.
Gene Hackman
In a press conference, Mendoza said he thought it was “unlikely” to the cell phone record would reveal anything other than what the authorities had already established on the death schedule.
Mendoza also confirmed that there is no evidence that Gene communicated with anyone after Betsy’s death for a week in the House.
“I don’t know if he used a cell phone, technology or email, there was no sign of it,” he told reporters. “So now Mr. Hackman has no activity.”
Mendoza said investigators were waiting for cell phone records, as well as the results of a necropsy examination of the couple’s dog, who was also found dead. (Derek Shakes Fox News Numbers)
Mendoza also offers Betsy’s activities and communication schedule until February 11, the last day she’s still alive.
During the investigation, officials found that Betsy received Zinna from Gruda Veterinary Hospital in Santa Fe on February 9. Authorities previously revealed that Zinna had been found in a crate that was found on the bathroom floor of Betsy’s body, which was “10 to 15” feet away.
Mendoza explained: “There is a surgery that is done with a dog that explains why the dog is in a crate.”
The couple’s other surviving bears and Nikita were found on the property. According to the affidavit, “One of the healthy dogs was initially observed in the females of the deceased (in the bathroom) and the other healthy dog was observed outside the residence.”
Authorities believe Bessie died a week before Gene’s death. (Getty Image)
Mendoza, in detailing the schedule of Betsy’s movements, said detectives discovered an email communication between the concert pianist and her massage therapist from 11:21 a.m. on February 11.
Gene Hackman Death: Full Coverage
“Go to the afternoon, Ms. Alakava was at the sprout farmers’ market between 3:30 and 4:15 pm.” From there, the surveillance video captured Betsy at the local CVS pharmacy around 4:20 pm
Many emails received on February 11 are still not open on her computer.
“After February 11, 2025, she or is known to have no additional outgoing communications for the event,” Mendoza said, adding that “mobile information and mobile data are pending”.
In a press conference, Jarrell explained that the Hanta virus is characterized by “flu-like symptoms composed of fever, muscle soreness, cough, sometimes vomiting and diarrhea, which can sometimes develop shortness of breath, heart or heart failure, and lung failure.”
“I don’t know when she started getting sick,” Jarrell said of Betty. “And these are just things I don’t know I’m going to get the answer. But I think back to that initial time period, I feel sick about 3 to 6 days and then give in quickly after the fluid starts to build up in my lungs.”
Mendoza was asked if she knew if Betty had communicated with family or friends because she felt uncomfortable before her death.
“Again, we’re going through some communications and I think there might be some signs on the phone before the 11th,” he said. “But as of this moment, I have no information that she’s feeling uncomfortable in any communication.”
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The hacker owns three dogs, two of whom survived. (Animal Rescue, Inc.)
At the beginning of the press conference, Mendoza said Zinna had been taken to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture’s veterinary diagnostic service for autopsy.
When asked if Zinna died of starvation or dehydration because she was misunderstood, Dr. Erin Phipps, a New Mexico veterinarian with the New Mexico Department of Health, said: “I don’t think we know the answer to this.”
“However, considering the timeline, it’s possible,” she added.
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Phipps also clarified that Zinna did not die of hantavirus because she asserted that dogs would not get sick from the disease.
Detectives initially described the couple’s death as “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation.” (Getty Image)
She explained that the state has confirmed one to seven rare infections in humans each year, ending in 2024.
“Over the past 50 years, we have identified 136 infections among New Mexico residents, five of which are in Santa Fe County,” Phipps said. “It’s a serious disease. 42% of these infections in New Mexico are fatal.”
According to Fox News Digital’s search warrant affidavit, detectives initially described the couple’s death as “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation.”
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Tracy Wright and Lauryn Overhultz of Fox News Digital contributed to the report.
