Betsy Arakawa made an alarming Amazon order shortly before she and her husband Gene Hackman died.
The pair were found dead in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on 26 February. However, it was later revealed following investigations that Arakawa, 65, likely died around 12 February, roughly a week before the Hollywood legend.
It is said Hackman, 95, possibly hadn’t known his wife had died due to his suffering with Alzheimer’s which was noted as a contributing factor in his death as a result of cardiovascular disease.
Authorities released a lengthy investigation earlier this week, detailing some of Arakawa’s final internet searches, phone calls and emails and love letters written by the actor.
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On the morning the pianist is said to have died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, she had called a medical concierge three times.
She then failed to return a call in the afternoon and never received treatment from them.
And between 8 February and 12 February, she had seemed to be researching information on flu-like symptoms and breathing techniques.
On 10 February, Arakawa had searched online to ask ‘can Covid cause dizziness?’ and ‘flu and nosebleeds’.
Then, the next day, she had ordered oxygen canisters from Amazon. It is believed she had made this purchase for ‘respiratory support’ but it is not clear whether they were intended to be used by herself, Hackman or both of them.
That same day, Arakawa had also emailed her masseuse to say her husband had woken up with flu or cold-like symptoms, but that a test for Covid came back as negative.
‘Out of an abundance of caution’, she asked if she could reschedule her appointment for the following day.
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which a post-mortem determined as Arakawa’s cause of death, can lead to a range of symptoms including flu-like illness.
It can also cause headaches, dizziness and severe respiratory illness – so, it’s possible it could be at first mistaken for a flu or Covid due to the similarities in signs.
A rare disease, it is typically spread to humans through infected urine, droppings or saliva of certain species of mice and rats.
Dr Heather Jarrell, chief medical examiner for New Mexico, previously told press that the mortality of the hantavirus strain in the southwest of the US is about 38 percent to 50 percent.
It was also reported by the New Mexico medical investigator’s office that there were signs of a rodent infestation at Hackman and Arakawa’s estate.
A live rodent, a dead rodent and a nest were found in the three detached garages on the property with droppings and live traps also discovered.
Topics: Gene Hackman, Amazon, Celebrity, US News
Jess Battison