Nests and deceased rodents were discovered in several outbuildings of the residence belonging to Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa. New Mexico Department of Public Health records obtained by BBC News indicate evidence of rodent activity in eight detached structures at their Santa Fe home.
Authorities have confirmed that Ms. Arakawa, 65, succumbed to a respiratory illness associated with hantavirus, a disease that can be transmitted via infected rodents. It is presumed she passed away a week before her husband, 95, who was suffering from advanced Alzheimer's disease. The couple was found deceased at their home in February.
An environmental assessment was conducted on March 5, shortly after their bodies were discovered, as part of an examination into their deaths. The assessment revealed rodent feces and a live rodent within three garages, alongside more droppings found in two external buildings and three sheds. Additionally, traps were set around the property, which had also reported sightings of rodents and nests nearby abandoned vehicles.
All eight detached buildings were positioned within 50 yards of the main house, which was noted by public health officials to show "no signs of rodent activity." Records indicate Ms. Arakawa is believed to have died on February 12, while Mr. Hackman's passing occurred on February 18, with both bodies found on February 26.
Medical investigators suspect that Ms. Arakawa might have contracted hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS)—a critical lung condition characterized by symptoms such as fatigue, fever, muscle pain, dizziness, and abdominal complications, leading to her untimely death. Hantavirus is a rodent-borne virus that humans can contract by inhaling particles from droppings.
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infections typically arise when the virus from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva becomes airborne. The CDC notes that if respiratory symptoms manifest during HPS, the mortality rate can be around 38%. Between 1993 and 2022, the CDC recorded 864 instances of hantavirus infection in the United States, primarily concentrated in rural western states.
Mr. Hackman’s cause of death was attributed to severe heart disease, with Alzheimer's disease deemed a significant contributing factor. Experts have suggested that his condition might have prevented him from realizing the passing of his wife after over three decades together.
