Hackman’s home had rat infestation, police reveal

Gene Hackman’s home was in disarray when he died, covered in loose items and food while infested with rats, creating a breeding ground for the deadly virus that killed his wife.

- KATIE HAWKINSON

New photos and video from inside the couple’s New Mexico home show the disarray inside when police found the couple dead.

Officers found Hackman, 95, his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, and their dog dead on 26 February. Arakawa died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, while Hackman survived for a week on his own before dying on 18 February from heart disease complicated by Alzheimer’s. Their dog, Zinnia, which was crated for medical reasons, died of dehydration and starvation.

As the officers walked around the home of the Oscar winner, their body cameras captured clothes, bags and other various items piled high on the floor, chairs and countertops. The bathroom was chaotic, with items strewn across the vanity, while loose food appeared to have been left on the kitchen counter.

The footage shows police entering the home and discovering Arakawa’s body near a bathroom. There were also two surviving dogs, and an officer remarked one appeared to be “guarding her” and seemed “pretty friendly.”

Police then found Gene's body in the estate’s mudroom.

Authorities also found dead rats, rat faeces and nests throughout the eight buildings that make up their estate, making their home a potential breeding ground for hantavirus.