Gene Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa's date of death revised after clinic calls confirmed

Investigators in Santa Fe, New Mexico, have obtained new information regarding the deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, which revises the timeline of events in their final days. Hackman and Arakawa married in 1991 and were found dead at their home in February of this year. This new information helps clarify the circumstances surrounding their passing.

Earlier this month, the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator revealed that both Arakawa and Hackman died of natural causes. Their deaths were at least a week apart, and the causes of death were different. Previously, authorities determined Arakawa's possible date of death based on inferences about her activities, stating that her last known communication was on February 11.

Surveillance footage showed Arakawa entering a store on February 11 and returning to their gated community around 5:15 p.m. However, after obtaining cell phone data, investigators learned that Arakawa used her phone on February 12. "We can now confirm that Mrs. Hackman's cell phone was used on the morning of February 12 to call Cloudberry Health, a medical center in Santa Fe. Three calls were made to that medical center that morning," the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. "That afternoon, the same medical center also made an incoming call to Mrs. Hackman, which showed up as a missed call on Mrs. Hackman's phone."

According to the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, Arakawa, 65, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease that can be contracted through contact with infected rodents. Her body was found on the bathroom floor in the couple's home. Authorities stated that Hackman, 95, likely died on February 18, several days after Arakawa's death, which was when his pacemaker last recorded his heartbeat. The Oscar-winning actor died of causes related to cardiovascular disease and suffered from advanced Alzheimer's disease, which authorities said was "a significant contributing factor" in his death.

The couple owned three dogs: Zinna, Nikita, and Bear. Zinna, an Australian Kelpie mix, was found dead in a dog bed in the same bathroom where Arakawa was discovered. However, the couple's surviving dogs have been adopted into new homes. "In response to many inquiries regarding the Hackmans' dogs, Bear and Nikita have both been placed in suitable homes," said the personal representative of the estate. "They are both safe, healthy, and adjusting to their new surroundings." According to a statement on the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Facebook page, a German Shepherd and an Akita-Shepherd mix were found wandering on the Hackmans' property. The front and back doors of the house were open, allowing the dogs to go in and out. Santa Fe County Animal Control worked with the family to ensure the dogs' safety.