Gene Hackman property showed rodent infestation after hantavirus check | Gene Hackman

An environmental assessment of Gene Hackman’s home after the deaths of the actor and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, revealed rodent infestation in outbuildings and garages, it has been revealed.

Records obtained by CNN show that the New Mexico department of public health conducted a “homesite environmental assessment” on 5 March, a week after Hackman and Arakawa’s bodies were found at their home in Santa Fe, and that rodent faeces, a live rodent, a dead rodent and a rodent nest were found.

New Mexico’s chief medical investigator said on 7 March that Arakawa, 65, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome while Hackman, 95, died of heart disease some days later, with advanced Alzheimer’s disease contributing. Hantavirus is a rare but potentially fatal disease spread by infected rodent droppings.

According to the report, the property contained eight outbuildings that showed signs of infestation, while the main house was “clean”, with no signs of infestation. However, there were sightings of rodents, a nest and faeces on vehicles on the property, and live traps were found in the outbuildings.

The assessment was carried out to determine the level of hazard to first responders and emergency personnel, and concluded the level of risk in the main residence was “low”.