Gene Hackman's wife Betsy made desperate plea for help a day after her death
Betsy Arakawa was found dead in the Santa Fe home she shared with her husband Gene over two weeks ago
The mystery surrounding Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa's shocking deaths has taken a significant twist. Authorities have now updated the date of death for Betsy after it emerged that the ex-concert pianist made a desperate call to an emergency care specialist, pleading for "esoteric treatment".
The pair were discovered deceased in their Santa Fe abode on February 26 by local security, with theories about their deaths ranging from murder-suicide to carbon monoxide poisoning.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office has verified that Arakawa made several attempts to contact a health clinic but failed to get the help she sought. They informed Fox News: "We can now confirm that Mrs. Hackman's phone was utilised on the morning of February 12 to call a medical centre in Santa Fe called Cloudberry Health. A total of three calls were made that morning, all to the medical centre. One incoming call was made to Mrs. Hackman from the same medical centre that afternoon."
Cloudberry Health corroborated the account, confirming the 65 year old reached out to the medical concierge service multiple times. Sheriff Adan Mendoza of Santa Fe County commented: "That would indicate to me that she was seeking medical advice or medical help, and may have not been feeling well."
Dr Josiah Child revealed that Arakawa phoned about what he termed "esoteric treatment," mentioning symptoms like "some congestion". Yet, notably absent were any mentions of breathing difficulties or chest pain, key indicators of hantavirus, reports the Express.
Actor Gene Hackman poses with his Cecil B. Demille Award backstage during the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 19, 2003 in Beverly Hills, California. (Image: Getty Images)
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa during 20th Annual People's Choice Awards at Sony Studios in Culver City, California, United States. (Image: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Dr Child said his team followed up with two calls, to no avail. In a twist, Betsy had skipped out on an appointment just before, blaming her partner's poor health.
The mystery deepened as Dr Child expressed shock at the situation. He remarked: "It is surprising that Mrs. Hackman spoke to my office on the phone on February 10 and again on February 12 and didn't appear in respiratory distress."
With most hantavirus victims perishing in hospital care, Dr Child found it odd that Betsy, diagnosed with the deadly hantavirus pulmonary syndrome transmitted by rodents, exhibited none of the classic signs during their calls.
Initial findings from the postmortem suggested that Betsy, aged 65, succumbed to hantavirus, a rare disease transmitted by rats, on February 11, with her husband Gene, 95, passing away a week later due to heart failure exacerbated by Alzheimer's. But Dr Josiah Child of Cloudberry Health in Santa Fe, who previously specialised in emergency care, turned the case on its head with his statement to the Mail On Sunday: "Mrs Hackman didn't die on February 11 because she called my clinic on February 12."
In related news, a New Mexico court today agreed to a temporary block on the release of documents connected to the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa that include personal footage and images. The temporary restraining order was secured on Monday (March 17) by Julia Peters, acting on behalf of the couple's estate, aiming to safeguard the family's privacy rights during mourning as stated in the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution.
As per the order, any materials depicting the deceased bodies of Hackman or Arakawa, the interior of their home, or their dead pets are barred from disclosure. The hold also means the Office of the Medical Investigator must withhold autopsy findings and reports from death investigations.
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