Getty Images
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead at their Santa Fe home last month, but now the cause of their deaths has been revealed.
New Mexico Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell announced at a press conference Friday that Hackman had died of Alzheimer’s disease hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. She believes that his death date is February 18th.
Jarrell said, “Mrs. Hackman’s death was Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The cause of death is natural.” She believes Betsy passed away on February 11th.
According to the CDC, Huntabilus is a family of viruses that cause serious illness and sometimes death in people around the world. They are spread through urine, feces and saliva by infected rodents. Some hantaviruses cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Early symptoms may resemble other respiratory disorders, which can make diagnosis even more difficult.
Dr. Jarrell also said that Hackman may have been unaware that his wife had passed away, saying, “It is possible that he was in all the advanced states and he had never known that she had passed away.”
At a press conference last Friday, Sheriff Adan Mendoza told reporters: The attitude and cause of death have not been determined. Official results of the autopsy and toxicology report are pending. ”
He added: “I spoke with Dr. Jarrell, a pathologist at the New Mexico office of Medical Researchers. She revealed to me the following information, both individuals tested negative for carbon monoxide. The first interrogation of Mr. Hackman’s pacemaker was conducted, which revealed that his last event was recorded on February 17, 2025.
According to a report by TMZ, Mendoza said there were no surveillance cameras in the facility or home to help with the investigation.
Furthermore, USA Today has found that the deceased dog, an Australian Kelpee Mix, is trapped in a kennel. The dog died from food and water shortages, as genes and Betsy could have died more than a week before the body was discovered.
