The causes of death for Gene Hackman, who was 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, who was 65, were revealed today at a press conference at Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.
Dr Heather Jerrell, New Mexico’s Chief Medical Examiner, announced that Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe respiratory illness caused by viruses that are transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents.
Her exact time of death is not known, but she was last seen on February 11.
Gene Hackman died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. According to information gathered from his pacemaker, he likely died on February 18.
Dr Jerrell explained: “He was in an advanced state of Alzheimer’s and it is quite possible he was not aware she was deceased.”
The couple were found dead in their Santa Fe home on February 26 alongside one of their pet dogs, Zinna.
The cause of death for Zinna (short for Zinfandel), a kelpie mix, has not yet been determined.
Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Zinna has been been taken for necropsy at Veterinary Diagnostic Services, with results still awaited. He also revealed that Arakawa had collected Zinna from Gruda Veterinary Hospital on February 9.
“There was a procedure that was done with the with the dog, which may explain why their dog was in a crate at the residence,” added Mendoza.
According to a police search warrant, the actor, his wife and their dog were found in separate rooms and appeared to have been “dead for some time”. The couple suffered “no external trauma”, the preliminary findings of a medical investigation found.
At a press conference last Friday, Sheriff Mendoza confirmed that both Hackman and Arakawa had tested negative for carbon monoxide.
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Hackman was one of the best-loved stars in Hollywood, appearing in classic films such as The French Connection, The Conversation and Superman.
He won Oscars for The French Connection and Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven and stepped away from the spotlight a few years after 2001’s The Royal Tenenbaums.
Gene Hackman’s wife was killed by hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. What is it?
The rare and potentially deadly disease needs to be treated early before severe symptoms develop.
Here’s everything you need to know:
Kevin Perry7 March 2025 22:19
Update on the Hackmans’ deceased dog
Zinna (short for Zinfandel), the kelpie mix who was found dead in a crate not far from Betsy Arakawa, has been taken for necropsy at the Veterinary Diagnostic Services.
Sheriff Adan Mendoza said: “We’ll be awaiting those results.”
He also revealed that Arakawa had collected Zinna from Gruda Veterinary Hospital on February 9.
“There was a procedure that was done with the with the dog, which may explain why their dog was in a crate at the residence,” said Mendoza.
Kevin Perry7 March 2025 22:14
Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife died one week apart, medical examiner says
Kevin Perry7 March 2025 21:52
Alzheimer’s and a rare disease: Everything we know about Gene Hackman and wife’s deaths
Today’s press conference has answered a lot of the questions that surrounded the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa.
Here’s everything we now know:
Gene Hackman had advanced Alzheimer’s and possibly didn’t know his wife died a week earlier, medical examiner says
Kevin Perry7 March 2025 21:41
Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa died of unconnected natural causes, medical examiner reveals
Kevin Perry7 March 2025 21:27
Hackman was in an ‘advanced state of Alzheimer’s’
In reference to the length of time between the deaths of Arakawa and Hackman, New Mexico’s Chief Medical Examiner Dr Heather Jerrell explained that: “He was in an advanced state of Alzheimer’s and it is quite possible he was not aware she was deceased.”
Kevin Perry7 March 2025 21:26
Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife died one week apart from natural causes, medical examiner says
Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife may have died around one week apart, both from natural causes, Santa Fe authorities have revealed.
It is believed Betsy Arakawa likely died first.
Kevin Perry7 March 2025 21:20
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s causes of death revealed
At the press conference, Dr Heather Jerrell, New Mexico’s Chief Medical Examiner, announced that Betsy Arakawa died from Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe respiratory illness caused by viruses that are transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents.
Gene Hackman died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Kevin Perry7 March 2025 21:15
