Gene Hackman died of heart disease, wife died of hantavirus a week earlier
The legendary actor, 95, showed severe signs of Alzheimer’s and may not have known spouse Betsy Arakawa was deceased, authorities say
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, and he may not have been aware she was dead because he showed severe signs of Alzheimer’s disease, authorities revealed on Friday.
Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference.
“Mr Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer’s disease,” Jarrell said. “He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that’s what resulted in his death.”
Authorities ruled out foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered on February 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative.
Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was February 11 when she visited a pharmacy, a pet store and a farm market, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said on Friday.
Hackman’s pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm on February 18., the day he probably died, Jarrell said.