Santa Fe: Betsy Arakawa, a concert pianist and the wife of late actor Gene Hackman, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare and often fatal disease caused by exposure to rodent droppings, an autopsy report confirmed on Tuesday.

Arakawa, aged 65, was found to have heavy and congested lungs, fluid in her chest, and mild hardening of blood vessels that supply the heart and body. The report also noted there were no signs of trauma, and her COVID-19 and flu tests came back negative. Toxicology results showed she had caffeine in her system, but no alcohol or intoxicating substances.

Hantavirus, though uncommon, can cause serious respiratory illness. The virus is typically spread through inhalation of particles from the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents.

The findings follow the release of autopsy and toxicology reports for Gene Hackman, the 95-year-old Oscar-winning actor, who passed away shortly before Arakawa. His cause of death was attributed to heart disease, and he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Hackman had also gone a prolonged period without eating, according to the report. He tested negative for hantavirus.

Earlier in the investigation, records showed Arakawa had made internet searches about flu-like symptoms and breathing techniques, possibly indicating early concern about her condition. Authorities released videos that documented the scope of the investigation, including interviews with staff and multiple searches of Hackman’s residence.

Detectives revisited the property in early March to retrieve Arakawa’s laptop and other digital evidence, as they worked to determine the sequence of events that led to the couple’s deaths.

AP inputs