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The tragic deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, have taken a darker turn with the discovery of rodents and nests on their New Mexico property. According to a recent report from CNN, an environmental assessment conducted by the New Mexico Department of Public Health revealed disturbing findings of rodent feces in several structures on the property. This included three detached garages, two casitas, and three sheds. Furthermore, a live rodent, a dead rodent, and a rodent nest were discovered in three of the garages.
The assessment was partly prompted by the presence of hantavirus in the area, which was initially linked to Betsy Arakawa’s death. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a deadly disease transmitted through the urine and droppings of infected rodents, was cited as the cause of her death in February. Gene Hackman’s death, which occurred several days later, was attributed to heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and high blood pressure.
The health department’s report notes that the couple’s main residence, where the deaths were discovered, did not show any signs of rodent activity or contamination. However, rodents were found in eight other buildings on the property, including two vehicles. In response, live traps were set up in different locations to monitor and control the rodent population.
While the main residence appeared to be unaffected, the overall situation on the property, which includes multiple structures, raised concerns about potential hantavirus exposure for family members and responders who had visited the site. Fortunately, health officials concluded that the risk of exposure in the couple’s main home was minimal, but the surrounding buildings posed a different concern.