Ha I just posted that in a comment on another site!! I remember that episode really well, because it was so damn sad that so many young people died before they could figure out what was happening.
Gene Hackman dead at 95: Iconic actor and wife, 63, are found dead with their dog at Santa Fe home. #3
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Phew, I've just caught up on 23 pages of comments.
Firstly, what a sad scenario the truth turned out to be. Possibly a week of poor Gene wandering around, unable to care enough for himself to keep himself alive and healthy. Not the scenario any of us hoped for, in fact the exact opposite. I hope that at the very least, this tragic situation has made people stop and think about people in their lives, or themselves, who may need to reconsider how they keep themselves safe from a similar situation. I understand how people may want to retreat from the craziness of the world, but I truly hope they put things in place to ensure their safety.
Now that we know dementia -and advanced dementia at that - was at play, it makes more sense that they may have withdrawn even more in the last 6 months or so. It seems Betsy was more of a caregiver than first thought, and as a "caregiver" type person myself (I'm a mother, nothing more), we do tend to take care of others needs first, even if we're under the weather. Yes, they had plenty of money to get someone in to help with his care, even a live in carer, but that doesn't mean they were comfortable with it. It's one thing to say, help your partner get dressed, another thing to let a complete stranger do it. Another thing again, when you're famous and frail. There could also have been a fear that if anyone knew the extent of his health that she/they would feel forced to put him in a facility. Maybe they just assumed that if it came to it, they'd just get someone in, not expecting it to be a sudden issue that would require it. For whatever reason, they chose to tackle life themselves.
It's been noted that Betsy appeared her normal self on the day she run her last errands, Feb 11th I believe. Nobody has come out to say she looked/sounded/felt unwell, or not herself, and we know she made several stops. Whilst her death could have been an acute incident that evening, I can see her declining over several days. Just because she didn't send or read any emails, or didn't show signs of being online, after that date, I don't necessarily believe that meant she died then. We've all been sick enough where we take ourselves to bed, or set up on a couch, and slept on and off until we're better. Sometimes for days. There's definitely been times where jumping online was not an option for me. At best, I may have thrown the TV on to catch my attention whilst I was awake. In fact, there was a time I was sick, and I'd taken to my bed. In this instance, I was definitely not up to "soldiering on" (something I always do, as a mother, because it's in my nature) or scrolling the internet. I assumed I "just" had the flu. Not wanting to cause a fuss, I shrugged off going to the doctor. Eventually my husband insisted, and I gave in. The doctor told me to go straight to the hospital, where I was admitted with pneumonia. This was a bit of a wake up call for me, and I've since been better at getting checked out "just in case". I can imagine Betsy, given her situation, would have wanted to stay home and care for Gene as best she could while she recovered. (If indeed she even knew she was sick at that stage) I wonder if she had taken to her bed, and was in the bathroom because of nature calling, or to get a Tylenol to ease a headache or fever?
The crated dog -Zinna?- had just come back from a procedure at the vet. There's a good chance she was in there to recover, or to be apart from the more boisterous dogs. There's been no mention of her wearing a cone or other device to stop licking, so maybe it was just something as innocent as a teeth cleaning under sedation? Sometimes dogs take a few days to come around fully and be back to their normal selves, so that may have been the reason she was in the crate.
As for poor Gene, it's intensely saddening to think of him alone in that big old remote house, possibly for a week, whilst not being of clear mind. We can only hope that perhaps he wasn't aware of Betsy's death and that he managed reasonably well until his lack of medication may have taken its toll. Quickly I hope. It's deeply troubling to think too much about that. I can imagine that thought is on repeat in the minds of his loved ones. Such an odd, tragic sequence of events.
RIP Betsy, Gene & Zinna. Condolences to their loved ones.
Firstly, what a sad scenario the truth turned out to be. Possibly a week of poor Gene wandering around, unable to care enough for himself to keep himself alive and healthy. Not the scenario any of us hoped for, in fact the exact opposite. I hope that at the very least, this tragic situation has made people stop and think about people in their lives, or themselves, who may need to reconsider how they keep themselves safe from a similar situation. I understand how people may want to retreat from the craziness of the world, but I truly hope they put things in place to ensure their safety.
Now that we know dementia -and advanced dementia at that - was at play, it makes more sense that they may have withdrawn even more in the last 6 months or so. It seems Betsy was more of a caregiver than first thought, and as a "caregiver" type person myself (I'm a mother, nothing more), we do tend to take care of others needs first, even if we're under the weather. Yes, they had plenty of money to get someone in to help with his care, even a live in carer, but that doesn't mean they were comfortable with it. It's one thing to say, help your partner get dressed, another thing to let a complete stranger do it. Another thing again, when you're famous and frail. There could also have been a fear that if anyone knew the extent of his health that she/they would feel forced to put him in a facility. Maybe they just assumed that if it came to it, they'd just get someone in, not expecting it to be a sudden issue that would require it. For whatever reason, they chose to tackle life themselves.
It's been noted that Betsy appeared her normal self on the day she run her last errands, Feb 11th I believe. Nobody has come out to say she looked/sounded/felt unwell, or not herself, and we know she made several stops. Whilst her death could have been an acute incident that evening, I can see her declining over several days. Just because she didn't send or read any emails, or didn't show signs of being online, after that date, I don't necessarily believe that meant she died then. We've all been sick enough where we take ourselves to bed, or set up on a couch, and slept on and off until we're better. Sometimes for days. There's definitely been times where jumping online was not an option for me. At best, I may have thrown the TV on to catch my attention whilst I was awake. In fact, there was a time I was sick, and I'd taken to my bed. In this instance, I was definitely not up to "soldiering on" (something I always do, as a mother, because it's in my nature) or scrolling the internet. I assumed I "just" had the flu. Not wanting to cause a fuss, I shrugged off going to the doctor. Eventually my husband insisted, and I gave in. The doctor told me to go straight to the hospital, where I was admitted with pneumonia. This was a bit of a wake up call for me, and I've since been better at getting checked out "just in case". I can imagine Betsy, given her situation, would have wanted to stay home and care for Gene as best she could while she recovered. (If indeed she even knew she was sick at that stage) I wonder if she had taken to her bed, and was in the bathroom because of nature calling, or to get a Tylenol to ease a headache or fever?
The crated dog -Zinna?- had just come back from a procedure at the vet. There's a good chance she was in there to recover, or to be apart from the more boisterous dogs. There's been no mention of her wearing a cone or other device to stop licking, so maybe it was just something as innocent as a teeth cleaning under sedation? Sometimes dogs take a few days to come around fully and be back to their normal selves, so that may have been the reason she was in the crate.
As for poor Gene, it's intensely saddening to think of him alone in that big old remote house, possibly for a week, whilst not being of clear mind. We can only hope that perhaps he wasn't aware of Betsy's death and that he managed reasonably well until his lack of medication may have taken its toll. Quickly I hope. It's deeply troubling to think too much about that. I can imagine that thought is on repeat in the minds of his loved ones. Such an odd, tragic sequence of events.
RIP Betsy, Gene & Zinna. Condolences to their loved ones.
What the medical examiner said is "hantavirus infection is characterized by flu-like symptoms consisting of fever, muscle aches, cough, sometimes vomiting and diarrhea, that can progress to shortness of breath and cardiac, or heart, failure and lung failure."
Additionally, the ME said the cause of death for Betsy was hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
It was not specifically said that Betsy died of cardiac arrest, or lung failure, but it's safe to assume the lungs failed and the heart stopped shortly after.
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Gene Hackman likely 'didn't know wife had died' as star's battle with Alzheimer's revealed by officials
Hollywood star Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead at their Santa Fe home on 26 February.
Yes, and I think some people are overanalyzing and overthinking the cause of death, but the medical investigator did try to state the cause simply and completely. And to go further just confuses the issue. At any rate, it is a shame that Gene did not have a health monitor that alerts the main centre of a medical issue and responds and checks on the wearer immediately. My dad, who is 90, had one when living alone but I guess with Gene's wife being so much younger, and usually right there, they figured it wasn't necessary. But it may've made all the difference after all sadly enough.
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Exactly the amount that can carry the virus into your lungs. Viruses are very, very small. So, microscopic.
MOO
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It is sad. Without Betsy, he likely wasn’t taking any of his heart medication.
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observing her movements on video? what video?
Surveillance footage
From a CNN article:
"Sheriff Adan Mendoza said investigators have been able to identify her on surveillance cameras earlier in the day on February 11, when all her outgoing communication and activity stopped."
So on February 11th, she ran errands leaving GH at home alone? This seems unusual if his Alzheimer's was very advanced as she was obviously a very caring wife who looked after him very well. I can only assume he was still functioning at a reasonable level and was deemed safe to be alone?
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Chief Medical Investigator Heather Jarrell said after autopsies were performed, it was determined that Arakawa died of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and Hackman died of severe heart disease and high blood pressure along with Alzheimer’s disease.
Investigators noted there is no reliable, scientific way to determine the exact date of death, but based on the investigation, they believe Arakawa died first, with her last known activity on Feb. 11, 2025. Hackman was believed to have died around Feb. 18, based on activity from his pacemaker, which showed atrial fibrillation.
Jarrell characterized Hackman as having very severe heart disease, with signs of previous cardiac events and damage to his body from both heart disease and high blood pressure.
FILE – Actor Gene Hackman with wife Betsy Arakawa in June 1993
Investigators noted there is no reliable, scientific way to determine the exact date of death, but based on the investigation, they believe Arakawa died first, with her last known activity on Feb. 11, 2025. Hackman was believed to have died around Feb. 18, based on activity from his pacemaker, which showed atrial fibrillation.
Jarrell characterized Hackman as having very severe heart disease, with signs of previous cardiac events and damage to his body from both heart disease and high blood pressure.
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This is just so sad - what a horrific way to die.
I just hope that he didn’t really know what was happening.
I still feel sad that none of their family realised they were deceased for so long - My Grandmother is 97 - I speak to her everyday on the phone and visit her at least once a week - if I couldn’t get hold of her even for one day I’d visit the house to check.
I just hope that he didn’t really know what was happening.
I still feel sad that none of their family realised they were deceased for so long - My Grandmother is 97 - I speak to her everyday on the phone and visit her at least once a week - if I couldn’t get hold of her even for one day I’d visit the house to check.
Isolated, no back-ups, other people, other caregivers, ways to communicate on a regular basis according to need....Very tragic ending to a phenomenal acting career. Gene was the iconic full-blooded American doer in films. To not be conscious of the danger that you're in, first Besty, then Gene. Are there any other celebrities so isolated? All the elderly people I know have their alert systems in case of medical events, some cycle through the emergency medical systems on a regular basis.
Here's where I'm stuck...
Alzheimers is progressive
Gene had a pacemaker and needed medication so he was being seen by a doctor.
Betsy was the sole caregiver and would have been in touch with his medical team.
How would a medical team allow a person in his state,which would have been diagnosed, to only be cared for by a non medical professional?
Alzheimers is progressive. For it to be at that late of a stage he obviously couldn't care for himself and requires round the clock care.
In the US you can have a family memeber be your primary care giver but it is still regulated with regular checkins. Given the passage of time and lack of communication it does not appear this was the case.
How could a person on medications and with his level.of disease be taken so far off the grid with zero check ins or regulations
I think becky was just blinded by her love and devotion
The space heater on the floor tells me she had a fever with chills. Gives.me some hope she was so delirious that she went quick. Maybe I. The only one here but if she kept suffering for days I can't imagine how painful it was as a caregiver to be so far incapacitated you couldn't help
Alzheimers is progressive
Gene had a pacemaker and needed medication so he was being seen by a doctor.
Betsy was the sole caregiver and would have been in touch with his medical team.
How would a medical team allow a person in his state,which would have been diagnosed, to only be cared for by a non medical professional?
Alzheimers is progressive. For it to be at that late of a stage he obviously couldn't care for himself and requires round the clock care.
In the US you can have a family memeber be your primary care giver but it is still regulated with regular checkins. Given the passage of time and lack of communication it does not appear this was the case.
How could a person on medications and with his level.of disease be taken so far off the grid with zero check ins or regulations
I think becky was just blinded by her love and devotion
The space heater on the floor tells me she had a fever with chills. Gives.me some hope she was so delirious that she went quick. Maybe I. The only one here but if she kept suffering for days I can't imagine how painful it was as a caregiver to be so far incapacitated you couldn't help
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