Gene Hackman Died of Heart Disease and Alzheimer’s a Week After Betsy Arakawa; Wife’s Cause of Death Determined to Be Hantavirus

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It was reported on Friday that Gene Hackman passed away approximately a week following the death of his wife, Betsy Arakawa, who unfortunately succumbed to hantavirus.

According to Heather Jarrell, the chief medical examiner for the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, Hackman passed away due to cardiovascular complications, with Alzheimer’s disease playing a substantial role in his demise.

It’s believed that Arakawa passed away approximately a week ago, on February 11th, due to Hantavirus, a virus that can be fatal and is spread by mice. The cause of death for both individuals falls under the category of ‘natural causes’, which encompasses conditions such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, respiratory failure, infections, and complications related to aging.

95-year-old Hackman and 65-year-old Arakawa were discovered deceased on February 26th. Initially, authorities stated that there was no indication of any suspicious activity.

At a press briefing held on Friday, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza disclosed that surveillance footage revealed Arakawa conducted some tasks on February 11th, which included shopping at Sprouts market and a CVS pharmacy. Additionally, there was an exchange of emails with a massage therapist on the same day.

At approximately 5:15 PM, their car drove into the private community where they resided. After this date, no signs of activity or communication were detected.

According to Jarrell, Hackman was diagnosed with advanced Alzheimer’s disease, in addition to having severe heart problems, including past occurrences of heart attacks. Furthermore, tests revealed that he did not have the hantavirus.

At a recent press gathering, Erin Phipps – our state’s public health vet – emphasized that hantavirus cases are quite uncommon. She explained that out of the 136 instances reported in the state over the past half-century, nearly half (42%) have been fatal. This virus is usually spread by contact with rodent droppings.

Phipps pointed out that certain buildings on the premises showed indications of small animal intrusion. However, he emphasized that the risk in the primary residence was minimal.

Hackman’s pacemaker recorded heart activity on February 17th. Unfortunately, on February 18th, the pacemaker detected an irregular heartbeat, which was the last recording, indicating that he likely passed away that day.

Last week, authorities reported that the autopsies revealed no presence of carbon monoxide in either body. Furthermore, a comprehensive inspection by the New Mexico Gas Company failed to detect any substantial gas leaks within the residence.

Based on the search warrant document, Arakawa’s body was discovered lying on the bathroom floor. Scattered across the countertop were various pills. During a public briefing, Jarrell stated that these pills were actually prescribed thyroid medications which were being correctly administered.

In a muddy side-room adjacent to the kitchen, Hackman was discovered lying on the ground. It seemed that both individuals had tumbled down. Remarkably, in a closet close to Arakawa’s body, a lifeless canine was found, while two other vigorous dogs were freely exploring the property. An autopsy for the dog is yet to be conducted.

A maintenance employee contacted the relevant authorities upon noticing an open door, and officers subsequently entered the premises where they found the deceased individuals.

The deaths appeared suspicious enough to necessitate a more thorough examination by investigators. During a search of the premises, detectives found two mobile devices, a calendar, and certain medications.

In various films, including “The French Connection,” “The Conversation,” and “The Royal Tenenbaums,” Gene Hackman graced the screen. He’s been a resident of Santa Fe since the late 1980s, where he also served on the board of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. His performances in “The French Connection” and “Unforgiven” earned him Academy Awards, and he retired from acting approximately 20 years ago.

Arakawa was once a renowned classical pianist who tied the knot with Hackman in 1991. Together with a friend, she ran Pandora’s, a popular home decor store situated in Santa Fe.

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2025-03-08 01:58