A Santa Fe doctor has stirred controversy surrounding the deaths of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa at their New Mexico residence.
According to the New York Post, Dr. Josiah Child of Cloudberry Health claims Arakawa contacted his clinic on February 12, a day after police reports indicate she had died.
The revelation directly challenges the medical examiner's official timeline of events leading to the couple's deaths. Dr. Child states that Arakawa had initially scheduled an appointment for February 12, which she later canceled due to her husband's declining health. She reportedly made another call that same morning to reschedule but never appeared for the appointment.
Dr. Child provided specific details about his interactions with Arakawa before her death. He revealed that she had contacted his clinic weeks earlier regarding an echocardiogram for Hackman. The doctor emphasized that her appointment was unrelated to any respiratory issues.
Child stated to the Daily Mail:
Mrs. Hackman didn't die on February 11 because she called my clinic on February 12. She'd called me a couple of weeks before her death to ask about getting an echocardiogram [heart scan] for her husband.
The Santa Fe medical examiner's report presents a different sequence of events. Chief Medical Investigator Dr. Heather Jarrell documented Arakawa's last known activities on February 11, including email correspondence and visits to local establishments.
Medical examiners concluded that Arakawa, 65, succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare respiratory disease transmitted by rats. Hackman's death was attributed to hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease listed as a significant contributing factor.
The investigation revealed that Hackman's pacemaker recorded its final activity on February 18, showing an abnormal heart rhythm. Post-mortem examination found no food in his stomach, suggesting he had not eaten for some time before his death.
The circumstances surrounding their deaths took an even more tragic turn when investigators discovered one of their three dogs had died in its crate. The animal, which was recovering from surgery, perished from starvation and dehydration.
The conflicting accounts have created significant uncertainty about the timeline of events. Garage data shows Arakawa returning to their gated community at 5:15 p.m. on February 11 after running errands at a grocery store, pharmacy, and pet store.
Chief Medical Investigator Jarrell maintains that the evidence supports their conclusion about Arakawa's death occurring first. However, Dr. Child's claims about the February 12 phone call have introduced new elements requiring further investigation.
Local authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the couple, who had been residing in their New Mexico home. The case has drawn considerable attention due to Hackman's status as a two-time Oscar winner and respected Hollywood figure.
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's deaths have become a complex investigation centered around contradicting timeline claims. Dr. Josiah Child's assertion about Arakawa's February 12 phone call challenges the medical examiner's official determination that she died on February 11 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The investigation has revealed a series of tragic events at their Santa Fe home, including the death of their dog and Hackman's final pacemaker reading on February 18, leaving authorities to reconcile these conflicting accounts as they piece together the couple's final days.
