Gene Hackman’s wife Betsy Arakawa did not know the extent of her illness in her final days: Report

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO: Gene Hackman’s wife was reportedly unaware about the health crisis she was facing in her final days.

The Hollywood veteran and his 65-year-old wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in February inside their home in Santa Fe. 

Later, a probe into the deaths revealed that Hackman died from heart disease combined with Alzheimer’s disease, while Arakawa, who was earlier believed to have died on or around February 11, lost her life to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

But she did not know the seriousness of it, as reported by the Irish Star.

Doctor says Betsy Arakawa complained of ‘some congestion’

Dr Josiah Child, a physician who oversees Cloudberry Health, shared with the publication, “[Betsy] had actually made an appointment to have an initial visit with one of our doctors on the 12th.”

“She called on the 10th saying that her husband was ill or wanted to take care of her husband. She wanted to cancel that appointment. She called back on the 12th and [looking for] advice. She said, ‘I have some congestion and I just want some advice. What can I do about it?’” the doctor revealed.

He also revealed that the late classical pianist “had no shortness of breath or chest pain or fever or anything like that. Our receptionist spoke to the doctor and the doctor said, 'Well, I've never met her. We have to have an initial appointment.'”

Child even told the Daily Mail that Arakawa "did not show any symptoms of respiratory distress. The appointment wasn't for anything related to hantavirus. We tried calling her a couple of times with no reply."

Betsy Arakawa used her phone on the ‘morning of February 12’

This came after earlier this week it was confirmed that Arakawa did not breathe her last on February 11.

Earlier, authorities told Fox News Digital, “Pending cell phone records, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office investigation showed the last known activity of Mrs Hackman to be February 11, 2025.”

But later the Santa Fe Sheriff's Department stated, “We can now confirm that Mrs Hackman’s phone was utilized on the morning of February 12 to call a medical center in Santa Fe, Cloudberry Health.”

The department also revealed that “a total of three calls were made that morning, all to the medical center. One incoming call was made to Mrs Hackman from the same medical center that afternoon. That appeared as a missed call on Mrs Hackman’s cell phone.”