The deaths of Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, have been making headlines all week. The couple was found dead in their Santa Fe home, and for days, there were a lot of unanswered questions.
Finally, in a press conference held by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office on March 7, officials confirmed the causes of their deaths. The shocking part is, Gene likely lived with his wife’s decomposing body for a whole week without realizing she had died.
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Gene Hackman’s cause of death was linked to heart disease and Alzheimer’s
Dr. Heather Jarrell, from the New Mexico Medical Investigator’s Office, explained, “The cause of death for Mr. Gene Hackman, aged 95 years, is hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor.”
The autopsy and full-body CT scan didn’t show any signs of trauma but did reveal serious heart disease. Hackman had a history of heart problems, previous surgeries, and past heart attacks. His kidneys had also suffered due to chronic high blood pressure. A brain scan confirmed he had advanced Alzheimer’s disease.
Betsy Arakawa died from a rare and deadly virus
Officials determined that Arakawa died from Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but serious illness.
Hantavirus spreads through contact with rodents — mainly through their urine, saliva, or droppings. It doesn’t pass from person to person, and dogs aren’t at risk of getting it.
A CDC source said that there weren’t any clear signs of rodents inside the couple’s main house.
But some of the other buildings on the property — a garage and two casitas — were a different story. There, they found rodent droppings and other signs of infestation.
Dr. Jarrell told reporters, “Based on the circumstances, it is reasonable to conclude that Ms. Arakawa passed away first.”
Gene Hackman likely lived for a week without realizing his wife had died
Investigators pieced together the timeline using security footage, Arakawa’s last communications, and the last recorded activity from Hackman’s pacemaker.
It’s believed that Arakawa passed away on February 11, while Hackman likely died a full week later. His pacemaker last showed activity on February 18, meaning he probably died that day.
During the press conference, officials shared that Hackman most likely continued living in their home for days after his wife had passed.
The medical examiner added, “It’s quite possible that he was not aware that she was deceased.”
It wasn’t until February 26 that sheriff’s deputies found their bodies.
Gene Hackman’s health had significantly deteriorated
When asked if Hackman could have survived on his own, Dr. Jarrell said, “I’m not aware of what his normal daily functioning capability was. He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that is what resulted in his death.”
Authorities also confirmed that Hackman had no food in his stomach, suggesting he hadn’t eaten for some time before he passed away.
One of the couple’s dogs also died
Tragically, one of the couple’s three dogs, Zinna, was also found dead in the home, though two survived. Zinna was placed in a crate after receiving medical treatment.
An investigation is ongoing to determine what caused the dog’s death.
Officials have reported Arakawa’s hantavirus case to the CDC
Authorities have flagged Arakawa’s case to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, they have stated that there are “no usual patterns” in connection to her illness.
Tragic doesn’t even begin to cover it. A heartbreaking end to the life of a Hollywood legend.
