Santa Fe, New Mexico – Health records have unveiled disturbing signs of rat infestation at the property where actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, tragically passed away within days of each other in February.

The couple’s bodies were found at their $4 million compound in Santa Fe on February 26. Authorities determined that Arakawa, 65, died from hantavirus, a rare disease that can be transmitted through contact with rodent droppings, saliva, or urine, around February 12. Hackman, 95, who was battling advanced Alzheimer’s disease, is believed to have succumbed to severe heart disease almost a week later.

Following Arakawa’s autopsy results, inspectors from the New Mexico health department conducted a risk assessment at the property last month. Records reveal that rodent feces were discovered in nine outbuilding structures, including surrounding casitas, garages, and sheds on the premises. Additionally, inspectors found a rodent nest, as well as a live and dead rodent in three separate garages.

While the main house where the couple was found was deemed clean with no traces of rodents, the outbuildings and vehicles on the property were accessible by vermin, posing a potential threat. Hantavirus infections, though rare, carry a 35 percent mortality rate in the United States, with three deaths reported in California just this year.

Arakawa, a classical pianist, was initially thought to have died on February 11, as she was last seen alive buying groceries. It was later revealed that she had called a local clinic the following day but did not answer when the clinic returned her calls. Authorities suspect that Hackman may not have been aware of his wife’s passing for several days.

The couple, known for leading a secluded life on the outskirts of Santa Fe, had a deep connection to the city’s art scene. Hackman, a prolific Hollywood actor with over 70 film credits to his name, was not only known for his on-screen performances but also for his contributions to the local community through his paintings, which he generously gifted to businesses and charities before his disease progressed. Their untimely deaths have left a somber legacy in Santa Fe.