Academy Award-winning actor Gene Hackman died from hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease as a contributing factor, according to New Mexico officials. His wife, Betsy Arakawa, died a week earlier due to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare and often fatal disease transmitted by rodents.
The New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator confirmed Friday that Hackman, 95, likely passed away on February 18, the last day his pacemaker recorded activity. Arakawa, 64, is believed to have died on February 11, after being last seen running errands in Santa Fe.
"Examination of the brain showed advanced Alzheimer's disease as well as blood vessel changes in the brain secondary to chronic high blood pressure," Chief Medical Investigator Dr. Heather Jarrell said. Hackman's autopsy revealed evidence of prior heart attacks, kidney disease, and other severe health issues.
The couple was discovered on February 26 in their Santa Fe home after maintenance workers called authorities. Hackman was found in a room off the kitchen, while Arakawa's body was located in a separate area of the house. One of their three dogs was also found dead in a crate.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said the circumstances appeared "suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation," leading to an extensive review of the home. Authorities found the front door unsecured, pills scattered near Arakawa's body, a heater that had been moved, and no immediate signs of a gas leak.
Detectives initially tested for carbon monoxide poisoning but ruled it out after the Santa Fe City Fire Department and New Mexico Gas Company cleared the home. A minor gas leak at the stove was discovered but was not considered lethal.
Arakawa's death was linked to hantavirus, which is transmitted to humans through contact with rodent droppings. "This occurs after a one- to eight-week exposure to excrement from a, primarily, particular mouse species that carries hantavirus," Jarrell explained. The virus is rare but has a high fatality rate, with 42% of cases in New Mexico proving deadly, according to Dr. Erin Phipps, the state veterinarian.
Investigators believe Hackman, already in poor health, may not have realized his wife had passed. "He was in an advanced state of Alzheimer's, and it's quite possible that he was not aware that she was deceased," Jarrell said. The autopsy indicated he had not eaten recently, though there was no evidence of dehydration.
Arakawa was last seen alive on February 11 when she visited a grocery store, pharmacy, and pet store before returning home at approximately 5:15 p.m. Authorities have found no signs of foul play but continue to examine the couple's final days.
Hackman, known for his roles in The French Connection and Unforgiven, had largely withdrawn from public life in recent years. His daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie, and granddaughter Annie released a statement mourning his passing. "He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us, he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss."
