Gene Hackman's Wife Betsy Researched THIS Online Days Before Hantavirus Death

(MENAFN- Live Mint) Gene Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa, had reportedly researched COVID symptoms and considered seeking medical care for her husband in the days before she died, an investigation by New Mexico officials revealed.

New Mexico's chief medical investigator said on March 7 that Arakawa, 65, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome while Hackman, 95, died of heart disease some days later, with advanced Alzheimer's disease contributing.

Also Read | California health alert: Hantavirus claims 3 lives in Mammoth Lakes

Hantavirus is a rare but potentially fatal disease spread by infected rodent droppings. It spreads through rat and mouse urine or droppings, and it starts with flu-like symptoms - headaches and dizziness, which can quickly turn into serious respiratory distress.

So she may have been experiencing similar symptoms to Gene at the time, TMZ reported.

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The investigation report obtained by TMZ revealed tragic, new details about what Arakawa did between February 8 and 12 - the day she likely succumbed to a rare, rodent-borne illness, leaving her ailing husband alone and helpless.

According to the New York Post, Internet browsing history, call logs, voicemails, and security footage from stores Arakawa visited showed that she had researched whether COVID could cause symptoms like nosebleeds and dizziness.

Also Read | Betsy Arakawa's death linked to hantavirus. What to know about the infection

In an email to her masseuse, she said Hackman woke up February 11 with flu or cold-like symptom . The emails also revealed that Arakawa delayed an appointment due to flu-like symptoms.

Arakawa gave her husband a COVID test, which came back negative. Her history also showed she purchased several Boost Oxygen canisters on February 11.

Also Read | Gene Hackman may not have known his wife was deceased. Both died a week apart

Her search history on the morning of February 12 showed she was looking into a medical concierge service in Santa Fe. A call with the service lasted less than two minutes, and she missed a return call later that afternoon, according to investigators.

Authorities believe Arakawa died of hantavirus shortly after making the search and that Hackman died one week later - around February 17 or 18 - from his advanced Alzheimer's disease and heart complications.

Who were Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa

Hackman appeared in a broad range of movie roles dating back to 1961, when he debuted in“Mad Dog Coll." His roles included playing the arch nemesis Lex Luthor in the“Superman” movies and a coach finding redemption in the sentimental favorite“Hoosiers.”

He was a five-time Oscar nominee who won best actor in a leading role for“The French Connection” in 1972 and best actor in a supporting role for“Unforgiven” two decades later. He retired in the early 2000s.

Meanwhile, Arakawa was born in Hawaii in December 1959 and grew up in Honolulu. She studied piano and, as an 11-year-old sixth grader, performed in youth concerts in front of thousands of students at the Honolulu International Center Concert Hall, the Honolul Star-Bulletin reported in 1971.

She met Hackman while working part-time at a California gym in the mid-1980s. They soon moved in together and relocated to Santa Fe by the end of the decade.

What we know about the deaths

Both were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said. Hackman's death was tied to heart disease with Alzheimer's disease contributing.

Authorities linked Arakawa's death to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome , a rare but potentially fatal disease spread by the droppings of infected rodents.

Hackman's body was found in the home's entryway, and Arakawa's body was found in a bathroom. Thyroid medication pills prescribed to Arakawa were found nearby and weren't listed as contributing to her death, Jarrell said.

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