Authorities reveal cause of death for actor Gene Hackman and wife

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Transcript

00:00Good afternoon, everybody.

00:04I'm Sheriff Adan Mendoza, Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office.

00:08With me today is Dr. Heather Jarrell, Chief Medical Investigator for the New Mexico Office

00:14of the Medical Investigator.

00:16Dr. Aaron Phipps, New Mexico State Public Health Veterinarian, New Mexico Department

00:21of Health, and also Chief Brian Moya, Santa Fe City Fire Department.

00:28This investigation started on February 26th with the discovery of Mr. Hackman and Ms.

00:33Arakawa and their dog at the residence.

00:37I just want to do a short recap and then touch on some new information.

00:43As we know, both individuals tested negative for carbon monoxide.

00:48City Fire conducted tests and deemed scene safe for deputies to conduct their investigation.

00:53The preliminary pacemaker interrogation results were released last week.

00:59And I'll let Dr. Jarrell touch more specifically on those results.

01:05The gas company, New Mexico, they also did an analysis of the residence and they found

01:11one minor leak in a single burner on the kitchen stove, which was 0.33% of room air, which

01:17was pretty minute and insignificant.

01:22Since that time, Xena, the deceased dog, has been taken for necropsy at the veterinary

01:28diagnostic services and we'll be awaiting those results.

01:34Let's speak a little bit in reference to the timeline for Betsy Arakawa.

01:42We know from our investigation that on February 9th, 2025, she picked up Xena from Gruta

01:50Veterinary Hospital.

01:51There was a procedure that was done with the dog, which may explain why the dog was

01:57in a crate at the residence.

02:01Let's move on to February 11th, 2025.

02:06Mrs. Arakawa had an email conversation with her massage therapist at about 11.21 a.m.

02:16Moving on into the afternoon, Ms. Arakawa was at the Sprouts Farmer's Market between

02:233.30 and 4.15 p.m.

02:28Ms. Arakawa was seen on surveillance video at the CVS Pharmacy in Santa Fe from 4.12

02:36to 4.20 p.m.

02:38She then stopped at a local pet food store at about 4.54 p.m.

02:46Her car was seen on surveillance and the remote-controlled clicker that is assigned to her and her vehicle

02:54was used to enter the subdivision to gain access to the gated community at 5.15 p.m.

03:03Numerous emails were unopened on her computer on February 11th.

03:11There was no additional outgoing communication from her or known activity after February

03:1811th, 2025.

03:22Cell phone information, the cell phone information and the cell phone data is pending.

03:28We're working with state police to get the information from those phones, but our investigation

03:33shows that all the last known communication and activity from Ms. Arakawa was on February

03:3911th.

03:40I'm going to go ahead and turn over the podium to Dr. Gerald.

03:46I would ask that everybody refrain from asking questions until everybody has provided their

03:51statements.

03:52I'll step up to the podium and then we'll go ahead and field questions from the media.

04:10Good afternoon and thank you for being here.

04:13I'm Dr. Heather Gerald, the Chief Medical Examiner for New Mexico at the Office of the

04:18Medical Investigator.

04:20I'd like to begin by stating that it is unprecedented for the Office of the Medical Investigator

04:28to make public statements about death investigations.

04:31However, the circumstances surrounding these two deaths require accurate dissemination

04:38of important information.

04:41I've also spoken with the Hackman family prior to this conference who are aware of the autopsy

04:47findings and conclusions and are aware of this conference.

04:53On Thursday, February 27th, I performed an autopsy on Mr. Gene Hackman.

05:00Medical Examiner Dr. Daniel Gallego at the Office of the Medical Investigator performed

05:06a full autopsy on Ms. Betsy Arakawa Hackman, also on Thursday, February 27th.

05:14My report, Ms. Arakawa Hackman's legal name is Betsy Hackman, which is how she will be

05:21referred to hereafter.

05:25The cause of death for Ms. Betsy Hackman, aged 65 years, is Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome.

05:35The manner of death is natural.

05:39Autopsy examination and full-body post-mortem CT demonstrated no findings of trauma internally

05:46or externally, with microscopic findings consistent with Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome.

05:55Laboratory testing was positive for Hantavirus at a clinical lab, with required confirmation

06:01testing positive at Scientific Laboratories Division.

06:06Testing for COVID-19, influenza, and other common respiratory viruses was negative.

06:14Testing for carbon monoxide was negative.

06:18There were no other significant natural disease findings.

06:22Pills present on scene were thyroid medication, which were being taken as prescribed and is

06:28not currently a concern for a contributory cause of death.

06:36The cause of death for Mr. Gene Hackman, aged 95 years, is hypertensive and atherosclerotic

06:44cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease as a significant contributory factor.

06:52Autopsy examination and a full-body post-mortem CT examination demonstrated no acute findings

06:59of internal or external trauma, and showed severe heart disease, including multiple surgical

07:06procedures involving the heart, evidence of prior heart attacks, and severe changes of

07:12the kidneys due to chronic high blood pressure.

07:16Examination of the brain showed advanced Alzheimer's disease, as well as blood vessel changes in

07:22the brain secondary to chronic high blood pressure.

07:28Laboratory testing performed at Scientific Laboratories Division was negative for COVID-19,

07:34influenza, and other common respiratory viruses.

07:38Testing for Hantavirus was negative.

07:41Testing for carbon monoxide was negative.

07:44Additionally, there were no autopsy findings concerning for Hantavirus infection.

07:51I have been asked when death occurred for these individuals.

07:56There is no reliable scientific method to accurately determine the exact time or date

08:01of death.

08:03Mr. Hackman's initial pacemaker data revealed cardiac activity on February 17th, with subsequent

08:11pacemaker interrogation demonstrating an abnormal rhythm of atrial fibrillation on February

08:1818th, which was the last record of heart activity.

08:23Based on this information, it is reasonable to conclude that Mr. Hackman probably died

08:28around February 18th.

08:31Based on the circumstances, it is reasonable to conclude that Ms. Hackman passed away first,

08:39with February 11th being the last time that she was known to be alive.

08:45Lastly, clinically, Hantavirus infection is characterized by flu-like symptoms consisting

08:51of fever, muscle aches, cough, sometimes vomiting and diarrhea that can progress to

08:59shortness of breath, and cardiac or heart failure and lung failure.

09:06This occurs after a 1-8 week exposure to excrement from a primarily particular mouse species

09:17that carries Hantavirus.

09:19The mortality rate of the Hantavirus strain in the Southwest is about 38-50%.

09:33The Hantavirus strains in the United States are not transmissible from person to person,

09:40and so this is an appropriate time to segue to Dr. Aaron Phipps, the State Public Health

09:46Veterinarian with the New Mexico Department of Health.

09:49But before I do so, I'd like to kindly ask for everyone to please respect the privacy

09:56that Mr. Gene Hackman, Ms. Betsy Hackman, and their family and friends deserve.

10:03Thank you, Dr. Jarrell.

10:09I will now provide additional information about Hantaviruses in New Mexico.

10:15There are many different types of Hantaviruses found worldwide.

10:19These viruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted from animals to humans.

10:25Hantaviruses are carried by rodents.

10:27The Hantavirus found in New Mexico, the Sinombre virus, is found throughout the state, primarily

10:33in deer mice, but in other rodents as well.

10:38Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is a rare disease caused by Hantaviruses, but a small number

10:43of human infections are found every year in New Mexico.

10:48Over the past five years, New Mexico has confirmed between one and seven Hantavirus infections

10:54in humans each year.

10:57Through the end of 2024, we have identified 136 infections over the past 50 years in New

11:04Mexico residents, five of these in Santa Fe County.

11:09This is a serious disease.

11:11Forty-two percent of these infections here in New Mexico were fatal.

11:16Most transmission occurs around the patient's residence or workplace, and the New Mexico

11:21Department of Health typically conducts an environmental investigation at the residence

11:27of all Hantavirus cases in our jurisdiction.

11:30This can help identify specific areas that may pose higher risk, providing insight into

11:35where transmission may have occurred and how to prevent future infections.

11:41On March 5th, the New Mexico Department of Health staff conducted a risk assessment of

11:46the property, including the main residence, as well as other structures on the property.

11:52This was critically important to address concerns about health risks to first responders, as

11:57well as to inform any prevention measures needed to protect the family and other individuals

12:03entering the property in the future.

12:05We assessed the risk of exposure in the primary residence as low, similar to other well-maintained

12:11houses in New Mexico.

12:14We did identify signs of rodent entry in other structures on the property and provided information

12:20and resources about reducing the risk of Hantavirus transmission related to those areas.

12:28Hantavirus can be transmitted to people through rodent urine droppings or saliva, so it is

12:33important to take special steps when cleaning up after rodents.

12:37Avoiding contact with or breathing in aerosolized rodent urine or feces, especially in a poorly

12:44ventilated area, is key.

12:46Detailed guidance can be found on the New Mexico Department of Health and the CDC websites,

12:52but I will provide a very brief summary now.

12:57It is important to use gloves and a well-fitting N95 mask when around or cleaning rodent-infested

13:03areas, and to open any windows or doors for at least 30 minutes beforehand to increase

13:09ventilation.

13:11Spray the area thoroughly with a 10% bleach solution or a commercial disinfectant.

13:16Let it sit for 5 minutes.

13:19Next, clean the area with paper towels, then throw them away in a covered garbage can that

13:24is regularly emptied.

13:26Before removing gloves, wash your gloved hands with soap and water or with a disinfectant,

13:33and then after removing gloves, wash your hands again with soap and water.

13:38It's important to never sweep up or vacuum mouse droppings, since this can spread particles

13:44up into the air.

13:47Since Hantavirus is found throughout New Mexico, awareness of these risks and how to reduce

13:52them is important for all New Mexicans.

13:55The New Mexico Department of Health extends our deepest condolences to the families and

14:00friends during this difficult time.

14:08I think that will conclude the statements for today.

14:10We will go ahead and take questions.

14:12I ask that there be one question per agency, and please state who you're directing the

14:19question to, as there's several individuals here at this conference.

14:23Sir.

14:24Just to clarify the timeline here, does this mean Gene Hackman was likely home with his

14:31deceased wife for a week before he passed away himself?

14:34Yes.

14:35I would assume that that is the case.

14:36Given his Alzheimer's status, that Mr. Hackman was able to live on his own and survive for

14:37those seven days?

14:38I think that's more a question, maybe for Dr. Jarrell.

14:52Just to repeat so that everyone can hear the question was, do we believe that Mr. Hackman

14:58was able to live on his own and survive?

15:01The answer to that question is that Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease.

15:09I'm not aware of what his normal daily functioning capability was.

15:16He was in a very poor state of health.

15:18He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that is what resulted in his death.

15:27I was able to look at fluid to determine if he was dehydrated, and I did not see evidence

15:36of dehydration.

15:38I did see evidence of very poor kidney function, and I think he died as a result of his heart

15:47disease and with Alzheimer's being that contributing factor.

15:51What about starvation?

15:55The question was, what about starvation?

15:57So there was no food in his stomach, which means he had not eaten recently, but he had

16:07also no evidence of dehydration.

16:11So based on your understanding of the progression of the Alzheimer's, do you believe that he

16:17was possibly not aware that his wife had died or didn't know what to do in that situation?

16:24It's difficult to answer.

16:25The question was, was he aware that Ms. Hackman had died?

16:29And I think that question is difficult to answer, but I can tell you that he was in

16:33an advanced state of Alzheimer's, and it's quite possible that he was not aware that

16:38she was deceased.

16:39This is for the sheriff.

16:40Considering the circumstances under which Mr. Hackman was found in the blood room with

16:45his walking cane and sunglasses by him, do you think there is a possibility that he

16:50was trying to get help for his wife?

16:53That's hard to answer.

16:54Again, it's hard to get into the frame of mind of what was happening at the time, and

16:59I don't know if we'll ever have the answer to that question, whether he was going to

17:02go for help or he wasn't.

17:03Sheriff, are there any other big questions that you're trying to answer?

17:04I mean, did this answer the biggest questions you had about their death in this case?

17:10Is there anything else that you're really seeking?

17:13The question is, is there any other big questions that are left?

17:17I think a lot of questions were answered here today.

17:19I think there was Dr. Durell went over the cause of death, and I think a lot of those

17:26questions are answered.

17:27I think the timeline that we've been given as far as the pacemaker results and the history

17:33and evidence that we found as far as the timeline of Ms. Arakawa, I think a lot of the questions

17:38have been answered.

17:39We are waiting on the cell phones, but it's very unlikely that the cell phones are going

17:45to show anything else.

17:46Another question?

17:47Sheriff, are there any signs of, what have you learned about Mr. Hackman's communication

17:48after February 11th?

17:49Did you talk to any friends of his who had spoken with him during that week-long period?

17:50Or know anything about what he was doing?

17:51So the question is, is whether there was any communication from Mr. Hackman or activity,

18:04and no.

18:06I don't know if he used cell phones or technology or emails.

18:12There's no indication of that.

18:13So right now there is no activity from Mr. Hackman.

18:14Sheriff, do you know if his pacemaker was connected to some sort of monitoring service?

18:15If anyone ticked off, then something was wrong.

18:16The question was, was his pacemaker connected to a monitoring service?

18:33The answer to that is that his physician, one of his physicians had contacted me and

18:43told me that they could see the data from the 17th, but that to really get the most

18:49information from that would come from the interrogation of the pacemaker.

18:54And that's as much as I can answer, not being a cardiologist.

18:58But they didn't say whether or not they were monitoring, or was his pacemaker equipped

19:02to send back data in that time so that someone could say, hey, something's not right.

19:08I can't answer that question.

19:09I'm sorry.

19:10Sheriff, was there any footage that came from the body cam from the house?

19:21I'm sorry?

19:22Was there any footage or anything that you can see from like body cam footage from the

19:28house?

19:29Are you talking about the body cams that the investigator, the responding personnel were

19:34wearing?

19:35Is there any video?

19:36No, so there was no outside surveillance or interior surveillance that we are aware of

19:41in the residence.

19:42So there was nothing to show the activity inside or outside the residence.

19:46And not at this time, no.

19:48Director Jarrell, you mentioned that one of the symptoms of Hantavirus is shortness of

19:53breath.

19:54We learned before that Betsy Hackman was laying on the floor when she was found.

19:58What kind of medical episode would she have had to cause her to fall and then not be able

20:03to ask for help?

20:08The question was regarding shortness of breath with Hantavirus and what kind of medical episode

20:15would we expect from somebody found on the floor?

20:18And I think to be able to answer that question fairly, I can go back to Hantavirus infection,

20:27which initiates with what's called a prodromal phase.

20:31That's initially flu-like symptoms where a person has fever and muscle aches.

20:36They don't feel well.

20:38After, of course, being exposed to rodent excrement.

20:44And that phase can last roughly three to six days.

20:49And then they can transition to that pulmonary phase where they have fluid in their lungs

20:56and around their lungs.

20:57And at that point, a person can die very quickly, within 24 to 48 hours, roughly speaking,

21:04without medical treatment.

21:06It's not uncommon to find someone down on the floor as part of a terminal collapse,

21:12so to speak.

21:13And that may very well have been what happened to Ms. Hackman.

21:17So you're estimating her time of death on the 11th?

21:20Or is it possible that she collapsed and was alive for a couple of days?

21:24It's hard to say.

21:26I don't think she was on the floor alive for a couple of days.

21:30I think that she went through that time period.

21:35And I don't know when she began to feel ill.

21:38And those are just things that I don't know that I'm ever going to have the answers to.

21:43But I think going back to that initial time period, roughly three to six days of feeling ill

21:50and then succumbing pretty quickly after fluid begins to build up in the lungs.

21:56Given the dog was crated, is it fair to assume that the dog died from dehydration or starvation?

22:05I don't think we know the answer to that.

22:09However, given the timelines presented, it is a possibility.

22:13Is it possible the dog had the hantavirus?

22:16Dogs do not get sick from hantavirus.

22:19Sure.

22:22The question was if we knew on Betsy's visit to the pharmacy if there was some medication

22:39or if she consulted with a pharmacist.

22:41We don't have that information, and I'm not sure that we can get that information due to HIPAA laws,

22:45but we don't have that information right now.

22:48Sir.

22:58At this point, there's no indication that there was a caretaker at the home.

23:02Sir, with the footage that you saw of Betsy on February 11th,

23:07was there any indication that she was feeling shortness of breath or having trouble moving around

23:11while she was running these errands?

23:13We can analyze the video a little more, but it's going to be hard to tell.

23:17She was walking around.

23:19She was shopping.

23:20She was visiting stores, but my detectives didn't indicate that there was any problem with her

23:26or struggle of her getting around.

23:28And I believe she had a mask on also, so I'll have to confirm that.

23:32But, yeah, there wasn't any indication of that.

23:35Sasha.

23:36Sheriff, this might be for you or Chief Moya.

23:37I don't know who could better answer it, but when was the last time you guys dealt with a hantavirus case

23:41in Santa Fe County or responded to one?

23:47Yeah, the question was last time the city of Santa Fe or the county dealt with a hantavirus case.

23:51I think we're going to have to look into that.

23:53I'll get back to you.

23:54I would have to do some data before we can move on.

23:56Have you had any communication with the CDC?

23:58Is there a concern about a bigger public health issue here when it comes to hantavirus?

24:03The CDC is aware of this case.

24:06Hantavirus is a notifiable condition nationally.

24:09All hantavirus cases are notified to them.

24:13This is not an unusual case.

24:16We get cases every year, unfortunately.

24:18So we're not seeing any indications of any abnormal or unusual patterns.

24:23Dr. Darrell?

24:26We'll go ahead and take two more questions, and then we'll wrap this up.

24:30Is there anybody that hasn't asked a question yet?

24:33Sir.

24:34Did Betsy communicate to anyone, family, friends when she was feeling ill?

24:37Did she make anyone aware?

24:39Again, we're going through some of the communications,

24:42and I think the cell phones may have some indications of that prior to the 11th.

24:47But as of this moment, I don't have any information that she was indicating that she was feeling ill during any communication.

24:55One more question.

24:57Since there's no sense that this is criminal in nature, are you closing this investigation?

25:01Are you still going to be releasing body camera footage from the deputies that entered the house?

25:05What happens next?

25:07We will deal with IPRA requests as necessary.

25:14If there's body camera or any request for public information, we will be releasing that because of the law.

25:21But, yeah, we consider this an open investigation until we close the loopholes of the cell phones,

25:29until we finish out the necropsy results of the canine and other loose ends that we need to tie up.

25:36But, you know, I think we're pretty close to the timeline and with the information that Dr. Jarrell provided.

25:44One more point on the heart disease.

25:46Is it fair to describe this as a heart attack, or is that not an accurate term for the heart disease case?

25:54The question was, is it fair to conclude that Mr. Hackman died from a heart attack?

26:03And the answer to that is that it's a little bit difficult to say.

26:07I saw no microscopic evidence of a recent heart attack.

26:11However, those changes can also take some time to develop, several hours to develop, so that I can see it under the microscope.

26:21He could have had an abnormal heart rhythm.

26:24We already know that he was in atrial fibrillation on the 18th,

26:29and that that could have evolved into a more terminal heart rhythm.

26:39The question was, did Mr. Hackman have heart failure?

26:43Oftentimes we see fluid around the lungs and heart failure and congestion of the liver.

26:50I did not see that in his case, but he had very extensive heart disease,

26:58and so he would have been predisposed to abnormal heart rhythms, and hence he had a pacemaker as well.

27:06Thank you everybody. That will conclude the press conference for today.

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