Hollywood : Gene Hackman and wife’s cause of death revealed

According to the Chief Medical Examiner, Arakawa had passed away seven days before Hackman’s death from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which is a severe but uncommon respiratory illness transmitted from rodent to humans, while Hackman, who passed away a week later, was determined to have died from hypertensive cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease a contributing factor.

With these new details bringing clarity to their death, it is believed that Hackman, due to his declining mental state caused by Alzheimer’s, may not have been aware that his wife had passed away. Arakawa, who was likely his primary caregiver, passed away before him, and Hackman was left alone and uncared for in their Santa Fe home. Without proper care and medical attention, his health may have deteriorated very rapidly, resulting in his death.

The timeline created more questions, particularly as to why no close relatives or close friends of the couple came to visit them even when Hackman’s pre-existing medical condition was made public. Due to their secluded nature it might be difficult to establish the facts.

Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, along with their dog, were discovered dead in their Santa Fe home, New Mexico by the maintenance staff on February 26. Hackman was found in the mudroom off the kitchen, and Arakawa on the bathroom floor, with an open prescription bottle and pills on the floor nearby. Their pet dog was discovered dead in a different room.