The timeline for the deaths of actor Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa has been changed after a doctor revealed Arakawa called them after the time of death investigators previously estimated.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Arakawa called a concierge doctor service on February 12, a day after officials thought she had originally died from hantavirus, a serious illness transmitted from rodents to humans. She was last seen the day before getting a prescription from a pharmacy and wearing a mask.
“That would indicate to me that she was seeking medical advice or medical help and may have not been feeling well,” Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza said during an episode of Good Morning America on March 17.
Cloudberry, the concierge service, confirmed the call with ABC News. Arakawa asked about what the service described as an “esoteric treatment” without elaborating on the nature of treatment she sought. Arakawa did not call back after Cloudberry made several attempts to get back in touch with her. She displayed no signs of difficulty breathing or distress during the initial call.
Hackman left his entire estate to Arakawa and nothing to his children. Arakawa left her estate to charity. However, if she died before him, the will would be void and the estate would go to probate court, according to ABC News. Hackman’s son Christopher has hired an attorney and plans to contest the will.
Officials said the timeline would hopefully be finalized soon.
The married couple were found dead in their New Mexico home on February 26 along with one of their dogs. Both were found in advanced stages of decomposition.
Hackman is believed to have survived several days after her. An autopsy reported the Oscar-winner died from a combination of severe heart disease, high blood pressure and advanced Alzheimer’s disease likely around February 18, the last day his pacemaker recorded activity.
The dog, Zinna, who was in a crate recovering from surgery, died from a combination of dehydration and starvation.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News (TNS)
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