Rodent nests found at Gene Hackman’s property where his wife died of hantavirus
Nests and dead rodents were found in the outbuildings of Gene Hackman’s property in New Mexico, where he and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, passed away.
According to the documents obtained by outlets CNN and BBC News, evidence of rodent infestation in the property was found after an environmental assessment done by the public health officials on March 5, a week after their bodies were discovered.
Per the report, the authorities found dead and live rodents, nests in garages, and rodent feces around the property, including in two abandoned vehicles or farming machinery. There were also sightings of live traps and rodent droppings in two small external houses and three sheds.
Per the BBC, the eight outbuildings were accessible to rodents and were within 50 yards of the main residence—which was found "clean with no signs of rodent activity," as stated in the report.
Records, obtained by the Associated Press, released by authorities also indicated that Arakawa actively researched medical conditions related to COVID-19, like whether it could cause nosebleeds, from Feb. 8 to 12.
She said in an email to her massage therapist that Hackman woke up on Feb. 11 with flu-like symptoms but tested negative for COVID-19. Arakawa rescheduled her appointment "out of an abundance of caution."
The couple was found dead in their residence in late February. Arakawa, 65, had hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and was believed to have died on Feb. 11.
Hantavirus is transmitted to human beings through “inhalation of the virus with close contact of rodents, or touching or in contact with infected urine or waste of these rodents," infectious disease specialist Dr. Rontgene Solante previously told PhilSTAR L!fe.
Its symptoms usually include fever, headache, and body aches for the first three to four days. It is followed by cough, then difficulty breathing, and death, which can occur in 30% to 50% of cases.
Meanwhile, 95-year-old Hackman, who died days later, was possibly not aware that his wife was deceased, as he had "advanced" Alzheimer's. Also found dead in their home was their pet dog, a kelpie mix named Zinna.
Hackman, a two-time Academy Award winner, is perhaps best known as vulgar New York cop Jimmy Popeye Doyle in the 1971 crime thriller The French Connection, for which he won an Oscar for best actor.
He won another golden statuette two decades later for best supporting actor for his portrayal of the brutal small-town sheriff "Little Bill" Daggett in the 1992 western Unforgiven.
He earned three more Oscar nominations during a five-decade career in which he appeared in 80-odd films.
