Gene Hackman Death Investigation: Cellphone Records Add Twists to Mysterious Timeline

Fresh revelations in the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa Hackman have placed the spotlight on detailed cellphone records, with experts suggesting these could hold crucial answers to the mystery surrounding their final days.

According to preliminary records released by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, activity was logged on Betsy's cellphone one day after she was initially presumed dead on February 11. Authorities had believed she passed away around that date, but new data indicates that she made multiple calls on February 12. That’s right—calls. After the presumed date of death. If this doesn’t scream, "something’s fishy here," I don’t know what does.

Former FBI investigator Bill Daly explained the importance of phone analytics in such cases. "The phone would not only show the last calls and texts but also movement," he told Fox News Digital. He highlighted how similar data has been used in past investigations to narrow down the exact time of death, often correlating it with when a phone stops moving with the deceased.

Daly also noted that the delay in analyzing these details might be due to difficulties in extracting phone data. "It could also be that pathologists initially estimated her time of death on February 11 but are now revising it based on this new information," he added.

Authorities confirmed that Betsy's phone was used on the morning of February 12 to make three calls to Cloudberry Health, a medical center in Santa Fe. An incoming call from the same center that afternoon went unanswered, appearing as a missed call on her phone. This detail raises more questions about her condition and actions leading up to her death.

Paul Mauro, a retired NYPD inspector, described the sheriff’s initial conclusion of Betsy’s death date as a "minor slip-up." He speculated that investigators might have rushed their statements due to the high-profile nature of the case. "I’m surprised they didn’t have this data point earlier," Mauro said, adding, "But perhaps what we’re hearing now isn’t their final conclusion." At this point, it feels like the investigation is playing catch-up with its own evidence.

Dr. Josiah Child, a physician at Cloudberry Health, shed light on Betsy’s health during her final days. He revealed that she had called the medical practice multiple times, initially canceling an appointment on February 10 to care for her husband. She later called back on February 12, reporting mild symptoms like congestion but no severe signs of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, the illness that ultimately claimed her life. Tragically, Betsy never showed up for her scheduled appointment that afternoon, and further calls to her went unanswered.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, confirmed by the New Mexico Department of Health as the cause of Betsy’s death, is transmitted from animals to humans, often via rodents. It starts with flu-like symptoms—fever, muscle aches, and cough—and can escalate to severe respiratory and cardiac complications. Dr. Heather Jarrell, Chief Medical Investigator, described it as a rapidly progressive disease that can catch even its victims off guard.

Betsy’s failure to recognize the severity of her illness remains a poignant aspect of this case. "Perhaps she was too focused on her husband’s condition or simply didn’t feel much discomfort," Dr. Child speculated. "No one will ever truly know why she didn’t realize how sick she was becoming." One can’t help but wonder how different the outcome might have been if she had sought medical attention sooner.