Authorities have confirmed the causes of death for legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, revealing they died a week apart from separate illnesses at their New Mexico home. Hackman, 95, succumbed to heart disease, with advanced Alzheimer’s as a contributing factor, while Arakawa, 65, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare lung infection caused by rodent droppings.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated that Arakawa’s last known activity was on Feb. 11, after visiting several local stores. Investigators believe she passed away that same day. Hackman’s pacemaker data indicated he died seven days later, possibly unaware of his wife’s death due to his deteriorating mental state.
Authorities discovered the partially mummified bodies on Feb. 26, with Hackman found near his cane in the entryway and Arakawa on the bathroom floor. A wellness check led to the grim discovery, along with one deceased dog in a crate and two surviving dogs. Officials ruled out foul play and carbon monoxide poisoning, but the investigation remains open pending further analysis.
Hackman, a two-time Oscar winner known for The French Connection, Superman, and Unforgiven, retired from acting in the early 2000s to focus on painting and writing. Arakawa, a former concert pianist, met Hackman in the 1980s while working at a California gym. The couple, deeply involved in Santa Fe’s arts community, had been living a quiet life away from Hollywood.
Source: Swifteradio.com
