Authorities have revised the timeline of events leading to the deaths of Academy Award-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, following new discoveries in their investigation.
The couple was found deceased in their New Mexico home last month, with officials initially believing they had been dead for an extended period before being discovered by neighborhood security.
Early reports suggested Arakawa passed away on February 11, followed by Hackman a week later.
However, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office has now confirmed that Arakawa made multiple calls to a health clinic on February 12 seeking medical treatment.
Cloudberry Health, a concierge medical practice, stated that while she contacted them, she never received care.
Cell phone records revealed three outgoing calls to the clinic that morning, as well as an incoming call from the facility.
Authorities had not officially declared a date of death for Arakawa but had previously reported her last known activity on February 11.
That day, she had exchanged emails with a massage therapist and visited a grocery store, pharmacy, and pet store.
Garage clicker data indicated she returned home around 5:15 p.m.
Dr. Josiah Child, head of Cloudberry Health, confirmed Arakawa described congestion but did not mention respiratory distress or chest pain.
She had initially scheduled an appointment for February 12 but canceled two days prior, citing the need to care for her husband.
On the morning of February 12, she called again seeking treatment, but because no prior doctor-patient relationship existed, she was advised to come in for an in-person visit.
Despite several follow-up calls from the clinic, she never responded or showed up for her appointment.
Hackman and Arakawa’s bodies were discovered on February 26.
Chief Medical Investigator Dr. Heather Jarrell determined Arakawa died first, attributing her death to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare respiratory disease contracted from rodent exposure.
Hackman is believed to have passed on February 18, as indicated by his last recorded pacemaker activity, which showed an abnormal heart rhythm.
His cause of death was determined to be severe heart disease, with advanced Alzheimer’s disease listed as a contributing factor.
Experts suggest his condition may have left him unaware of his wife’s death or unable to process the situation, leading to confusion and inaction over several days.
A necropsy report also revealed one of the couple’s three dogs, which had been crated while recovering from surgery, died from starvation and dehydration.
As investigations continue, representatives for Hackman and Arakawa’s estate have taken legal steps to prevent the release of body camera footage and other visual evidence from their home.
A New Mexico judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking their release, with a court hearing set for March 31.
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