Gene Hackman’s wife’s phone call ‘after she died’ confirmed as new death theory exposed

Betsy Arakawa was alive at least 24 hours after what police believed was her original time of death, authorities have confirmed. It was thought Betsy, 65, who had been married to , 95, since 1991, died on February 11, however, preliminary cell phone records show that she made multiple calls to a Santa Fe medical center on February 12. 

“We can now confirm that Mrs. Hackman’s phone was utilized on the morning of February 12 to call a medical center in Santa Fe, Cloudberry Health,” authorities told  “A total of three calls were made that morning, all to the medical center. One incoming call was made to Mrs. Hackman from the same medical center that afternoon. That appeared as a missed call on Mrs. Hackman’s cell phone.”

The new bombshell supports a claim made by former emergency care specialist Dr. Josiah Child, the day after she supposedly died. 

“She made an appointment for herself for February 12. It was for something unrelated to anything respiratory,” Dr. Child told . He explained that Betsy had cancelled her appointment just days before, citing Gene’s declining health. 

The doctor raised questions over Betsy’s cause of death, believing that her hantavirus diagnosis may not tell the full story.

“It is surprising that Mrs. Hackman spoke to my office on the phone on February 10 and again on February 12 and didn’t appear in respiratory distress,” Dr Child said. “Most patients who have hantavirus die in hospital.”

Betsy’s autopsy results confirmed that she died from , a rare but serious disease that affects the lungs. It is contracted after coming into contact with an infected rodent and 38% of people who develop respiratory symptoms may die from the disease.

However, Dr Child has cast doubt over how Betsy died as he claimed she didn’t show symptoms associated with the illness during their phone calls. 

Betsy’s body was discovered alongside her husband’s in their Santa Fe home on February 26. It is believed Gene was alive for up to one week after Betsy’s death, with some saying he wasn’t aware what had happened to his wife. 

The French Connection star died from coronary artery disease, with Alzheimer’s as a contributing factor.