By Premiumkosova 
Officials looking into the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa believe they may have gotten the dates wrong initially.
The pair tragically died last month, alongside Zinna – one of their three pet dogs, with the 95-year-old actor believed to have been living in their house, on the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico, with the 65-year-old classical pianist’s corpse for as long as a week before ultimately dying himself.
Authorities revealed that Betsy died roughly one week before her two-time Oscar-winning husband, but what we thought we know has been called into question after a clinician revealed he had spoken with her a day after she reportedly died.
Yes, it’s confusing so here’s a full timeline of everything we know about the couple – who had just celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary two months prior – and their dog’s death.
February 9 – Betsy picks up Zinna from the vet’s
We can explain why Zinna was locked up in a crate, while the other two dogs roamed free.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed: “On February 9, 2025 she picked up Zinna from Gruda Veterinary Hospital. There was a procedure that was done with the dog, which may explain why the dog was in a crate at the residence.”
February 10 – Betsy cancels doctor’s appointment
Betsy calls Cloudberry Health in Santa Fe to cancel an appointment, according to Dr Josiah Child, who runs the facility.
February 11 – Betsy initially believed to have died
“It is reasonable to conclude that Ms Hackman passed away, first with February 11 being the last time that she was known to be alive,” chief medical examiner Dr Heather Jarrell told reporters during a press conference on the pair’s cause of deaths, on March 7.
Dr Jarrell also confirmed Betsy died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, adding ‘the manner of death is natural’.
Hantavirus is a rare infectious disease that begins with flu-like symptoms and progresses rapidly to a more severe disease. It can lead to life-threatening lung and heart problems.
Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa during the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards in 2003 (Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)
February 12 – Betsy calls Hackman’s doctor and misses return call
Dr Child claimed Betsy spoke to a member of his clinic as she attempted to arrange an appointment for her husband.
“Mrs Hackman didn’t die on February 11 because she called my clinic on February 12,” he told the Daily Mail.
“She’d called me a couple of weeks before her death to ask about getting an echocardiogram [heart scan] for her husband. She was not a patient of mine, but one of my patients recommended Cloudberry to her.
“She made an appointment for herself for February 12. It was for something unrelated to anything respiratory.”
The clinic made an appointment for Betsy later that day, but she didn’t show up. Dr Child said it ‘wasn’t for anything related to hantavirus’ and the clinic were then unable to get hold of her over the phone.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office to Today, explained how Betsy missed a return call from Cloudberry Health later on in the day.
“We can now confirm that Mrs. Hackman’s phone was utilized on the morning of Feb. 12 to call a medical center in Santa Fe, Cloudberry Health. A total of three calls were made that morning, all to the medical center,” officials confirmed.
“One incoming call was made to Mrs. Hackman from the same medical center that afternoon. That appeared as a missed call on Mrs. Hackman’s cell phone,” the statement concludes.
“This information was learned through investigation into the cell phone data contained on her phone.”
Betsy and Hackman pictured on the golf course in 1991 (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
February 17 – Activity comes from Hackman’s pacemaker
When asked at the press conference on March 7, if Hackman knew of Betsy’s death, Dr Jarrell answered: “I think that question is difficult to answer, but I can tell you that he was in an advanced state of Alzheimer’s, and it’s quite possible that he was not aware that she was deceased.
“Mr Hackman’s initial pacemaker data revealed cardiac activity on February 17.”
February 18 – Hackman ‘probably died’
Dr Jarrell told the press conference: “Mr Hackman’s initial pacemaker data revealed cardiac activity on February 17, with subsequent pacemaker interrogation demonstrating an abnormal rhythm of atrial fibrillation on February 18, which was the last record of heart activity.
“Based on this information, it is reasonable to conclude that Mr Hackman probably died around February 18.”
While concluding the cause of death, Jarrell confirmed: “The cause of death for Mr. Gene Hackman, aged 95 years, is hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor.”
February 26 – Betsy and Hackman’s bodies discovered
The pair were discovered by two maintenance workers at the scene of their sprawling $3.8 million home, as the front door was unlocked, and two of their three of their dogs on the premises were ‘healthy’.
A bottle of opened prescription pills was also found scattered on the counter top of the bathroom near Betsy’s body while Gene was found on the floor of the mud-room by a walking stick and sunglasses.
While it hasn’t been confirmed what day Zinna died, an autopsy of the kelpie showed that dehydration and starvation were likely what led to the animal’s death.
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Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Kevin Winter
Topics: Gene Hackman, Health
Joe Yates
Police release official cause of death for Gene Hackman as cardiovascular disease while his wife’s was ‘natural’
Nine days have passed since Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead at their Santa Fe home
Officials have now confirmed how Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa died.
The bodies of the 95-year-old actor and his 65-year-old classical pianist partner were discovered at their home in the Santa Fe, New Mexico, last Wednesday (26 February).
Speaking during a press conference today (March 7), chief medical examiner Dr Heather Jarrell confirmed the pair’s cause of deaths.
She said: “The cause of death for Mr. Gene Hackman, aged 95 years, is hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor.”
Dr Jarrell also confirmed Arakawa died of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, adding ‘the manner of death is natural’.
Hantavirus is a rare infectious disease that begins with flu-like symptoms and progresses rapidly to a more severe disease. It can lead to life-threatening lung and heart problems.
Actor Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa pose for a portrait in 1986 (Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Speaking about Arakawa’s death, the chief medical examiner said: “Autopsy examination and full body post mortem CT demonstrated no findings of trauma internally or externally with microscopic findings consistent with Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
“Laboratory testing was positive for Hantavirus at a clinical lab with required confirmation testing positive at scientific laboratories division, testing for Covid-19, influenza and other common respiratory viruses was negative testing for carbon monoxide was negative.
“There were no other significant natural disease findings, pills present on scene, or thyroid medication which were being taken as prescribed and is not currently a concern for a contributory cause of death.”
Officials believe Arakawa passed away on February 11, while it’s thought that Hackman died a week later.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said the case will remain an ‘open investigation’ until they tie up the ‘loose ends’.
Gene grips both of his Oscars alongside Clin Eastwood (Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)
A search warrant from police in Santa Fe previously revealed the pair had been dead for ‘some time’ and were found in different rooms. The couple’s dog was found dead in similar circumstances, police added.
Tests on Hackman’s pacemaker showed he was alive as of February 17, when a ‘last event’ was recorded, reports Daily Mail, which was nine days before their bodies were found.
The 95-year-old was found in a mudroom – a room used for dirty or wet footwear and clothing – while Arakawa was found dead in a bathroom, where there was an open prescription bottle and pills scattered on the countertop.
Among the ‘suspicious’ circumstances at the scene of their sprawling $3.8 million home were the fact the front door was unlocked, as discovered by two maintenance workers, and two of their three of their dogs on the premises were ‘healthy’.
A bottle of opened prescription pills was also found scattered on the countertop of the bathroom near Arakawa’s body while Hackman was found lying by a walking stick and sunglasses.