- Links to the deadly Hantavirus have been found in Gene Hackman’s home
- Hackman lived in Sante Fe with his wife Betsy Arakawa
- The pair were found dead in mid-February 2025
Dead rats and rodent nests have been found in Gene Hackman’s Sante Fe house. The information was revealed via a newly released health report.
Hollywood icon Hackman passed away in mid-February alongside his wife of 30 years, the former classical pianist Betsy Arakawa. A family dog was also found dead at the couple’s property.
Read more: Timeline change in death of Gene Hackman’s wife Betsy Arakawa
Initially, the circumstances surrounding their deaths weren’t immediately clear. However, after extensive investigations it was ruled that Arakawa had passed away on 11 February following a Hantavirus infection. While relatively unknown, this rare condition is thought to be spread by rodents.
Hackman is believed to have passed away roughly a week later from a complication heart disease and Alzheimer’s. At 95-years-old, Hackman’s 65-year-old wife was also his carer.
Read more: How many kids does Gene Hackman have?
Now, more than a month after the pair’s passing, a new health report has painted a picture of the conditions inside Hackman’s Sante Fe home, alongside its Hantavirus links.
Rodents found in Gene Hackman house
As per a health report first obtained by TMZ, Hackman’s property in Sante Fe, New Mexico, was found to contain multiple dead rodents throughout its eight outbuildings. Nests were also found across the property.
These are believed to be linked to the couple’s deaths from Hantavirus, a rare pulmonary syndrome which is spread via human contact with rodents, their feces, urine and saliva.
The report – which was later corroborated by CNN – claims that The New Mexico Department of Public Health carried out an environmental check shortly after the star and his wife were found dead.
The report was part of the investigation into the events leading to the pair’s deaths.
What else was found?
The same report claims that feces, a live rodent, a rodent nest and a dead rodent were found in various buildings throughout Hackman and Arakawa’s property.
A rodent nest and feces were even found inside vehicles, with live traps also discovered, suggesting this infestation had been going on for some time.
Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths have since sparked a new interest in Hantavirus and its symptoms. It is believed that New Mexico has the most reported cases of the disease, resulting in a 41% mortality rate for local patients.
People are advised to wear face and mouth coverings when coming into contact with rodents and their droppings. Symptoms for the infection are flu-like.
