The mysterious case of the death of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, has taken a dramatic turn, as her doctor claims he received a phone call from her one day after the date authorities say she died.

The forensic examination reported that Betsy Arakawa passed away on February 11 from Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease transmitted by rodents. However, Dr. Josiah Child, a former emergency care specialist who now runs the Cloudberry Health clinic in Santa Fe, told the Mail on Sunday: “Mrs. Hackman did not die on February 11, because she called my office on February 12.”

According to the doctor, Betsy had contacted him two weeks before her death, seeking information about a heart ultrasound for her husband. “She was not my patient, but she had been referred to me by one of my patients,” Dr. Child explained. In fact, she had scheduled an appointment for February 12, which she canceled two days prior, saying that Gene Hackman was unwell. “On the morning of February 12, she called again and spoke with one of our doctors, who told her to come in that afternoon. We scheduled an appointment, but she never showed up,” the doctor stated. “She was not exhibiting symptoms of respiratory distress. The appointment was unrelated to Hantavirus. We tried to call her back, but we received no response.”

What the Autopsy Revealed About Gene Hackman

Gene Hackman was found dead on February 18 in the service room of his isolated home in Santa Fe, just six meters away from the bathroom where his wife’s lifeless body was discovered. The autopsy of the 93-year-old actor revealed that there was no food in his stomach, suggesting he had gone without eating for days. Authorities believe that his advanced dementia prevented him from realizing his wife’s death, leading him to wander alone in the house until he ultimately succumbed to heart failure.

Betsy’s Date of Death in Question – What Authorities Say

New Mexico’s Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Heather Jarrell, insists that Betsy died on February 11, stating in a press conference: “Based on the evidence, it is reasonable to conclude that Betsy Hackman died first, on February 11, as this is the last confirmed date she was known to be alive.” According to the medical examiner, Hantavirus causes flu-like symptoms but can lead to respiratory failure and cardiac dysfunction. Despite claims from her doctor, authorities have not revised her official date of death.

Hackman’s Will Sparks Family Tensions

Amid all this, new revelations about Gene Hackman’s will have caused tensions within the actor’s family. The Oscar-winning actor left nothing to his three children, as his entire estate had been transferred to Betsy.

According to the will, if both spouses died within 90 days of each other, Betsy’s estate would be donated to charitable organizations. However, Hackman’s son, Christopher, has already hired a lawyer specializing in inheritance disputes, signaling a potential challenge to the will.

Hackman’s Dogs Helped Locate His Body

A touching detail in the case is that Gene Hackman’s dogs helped rescuers find his body. According to USA Today, first responders initially discovered Betsy’s body but could not locate Hackman for 30 minutes—until his dogs, Bear (a German Shepherd) and Nikita (an Akita-Shepherd mix), began leading them toward the service room. “At first, officers thought the dogs just wanted to play,” said Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya. “Then they realized they were trying to show them something.”

Legal Limbo for Hackman’s Dogs Until Wills Are Settled

The couple’s two dogs cannot yet be adopted by a new family, as they are in legal limbo until the estate matters are resolved. For now, they remain in a shelter in Santa Fe, awaiting a final decision on their future.