Tragic state of Gene Hackman's home as children left out of will
New information has come to light about the condition of renowned actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa's residence following their tragic discovery in their New Mexico mansion on February 26. The pair were found in their Santa Fe home after concerned staff saw their lifeless bodies through a window and alerted emergency services. Initial suspicions of potential carbon monoxide poisoning were eventually dismissed when tests determined they had both died from separate health complications. It was later confirmed that Betsy, aged 65, succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome - a rare and lethal disease transmitted via the droppings and urine of infected rodents. Her death is thought to have taken place around February 12. Just a few days afterwards, Gene, who was 95, passed away due to complications associated with advanced heart disease, exacerbated by Alzheimer's and kidney problems. Heartbreakingly, authorities suspect that the award-winning actor may not have been aware of his wife's passing due to his deteriorating health. Further details about the state of the property where they were discovered have since been revealed, reports the Mirror. A week after their bodies were discovered, the New Mexico Department of Public Health conducted a thorough inspection of the couple's expansive property. The findings were disturbing. Rodent nests, faeces, and even carcasses were discovered across eight separate buildings on the estate - including garages, sheds and guesthouses. Inspectors also found evidence of rodents inside two vehicles, along with traps throughout the outbuildings, suggesting the issue was long-running.
Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa
While the main residence was deemed "low-risk" with no active signs of infestation indoors, the condition of the surrounding property led officials to describe it as a potential hotspot for hantavirus. Gene Hackman, who retired from acting following his last film 'Welcome to Mooseport' some 20 years ago, has since lived under the radar with his wife Betsy Arakawa, valuing their privacy away from the glitz of Hollywood. Their legal team strived to maintain this secrecy post-mortem. But in a recent turn of events, a judge ruled that parts of the investigation findings, including body cam footage and snaps of a deceased pet discovered in the premises, could be disclosed to the public, with the caveat that any visual content not exhibit Hackman or Arakawa's remains. This previous month saw the release of said footage capturing officers conversing with employees who raised the alarm upon spotting a corpse through a window, with one remarking, "Something's not right," captured in the clip. As laid down in his 1995 testament, Hackman bestowed his entire legacy to Arakawa. She delineated in her testament that should they both pass within a span of 90 days, their fortune would benefit charitable causes. The haunting series of events surrounding their deaths and the shocking state of their property have left fans reeling and raised awareness around the deadly Hantavirus - of which fewer than 50 cases are reported in the US each year. The couple had been married for 34 years and had no children of their own, although Arakawa was a stepmother to his three children from a previous marriage. Legal experts have now said that because authorities say Arakawa died seven days before her husband, Hackman's children could now potentially inherit his fortune despite not being named in the will. Hackman's three kids with his former partner, Faye Maltese – Christopher, aged 65, Elizabeth at 62, and Leslie, 58 – haven't made any public statements regarding the incident. The discovery at their home was initially labelled "suspicious" by officials but ultimately, foul play was ruled out. Among their pets, one dog named Zinna was found dead, while two others, Bear and Nikita, were discovered loose on the 12-acre estate. Tucked away in a quiet gated community, it seems their neighbours scarcely caught a glimpse of the reclusive pair.
Actor Gene Hackman with wife Betsy Arakawa
(Image: Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
"They have a gate, and we have a gate, and we just have never even seen each other," shared a local resident with the New York Times. Echoing the sentiment, another neighbour commented: "He wanted to be quiet, he didn't want to be bothered, and I don't blame him." Reports suggest that the $3.5million (£2.6million) ranch home was in disarray before the sad passing of the couple. Speaking to MailOnline, a source described the state of the property: "The inside of the house was shocking," and "They didn't have a housekeeper or a maid, so it had beautiful things - furniture and paintings - but there was dog poop on the floor." Further details from the source painted a grim picture: "The inside of the house was bad. Nothing had been dusted. There was nothing in the fridge." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
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