Oscar-Winning Actor Gene Hackman and Wife Found Dead: Investigation Confirms Natural Causes:

The body of Oscar winning actor Gene Hackman was discovered alongside his spouse Betsy Arakawa and their dog. Earlier reports indicated that Hackman died after his pacemaker malfunctioned a week prior to his caretaker discovering him. Further investigation remains pending, but the latest conclusion is that the actor died of old age about a week after his spouse passed away.

Heather Jarrell, the Chief Medical Investigator in New Mexico, updated the media on the case's latest development during a press conference. Jarrell stated, “The cause of death for Mr. Gene Hackman, aged 95 years, is hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributing factor.” CNN

Jarrel has also mentioned, “For Bessy Hackman, aged 65 years, the cause of death is medicine: hantavirus, pulmonary syndrome. The manner of the death is natural.” Jarrell further detailed that Hantavirus is potentially lethal. Symptoms usually start off as flu like which can then escalate to extreme shortness of breath, heart failure, and even lung failure.

She maintained, “This happens following one to eight weeks of an infection caused by feces of a specific rodent that has Hantavirus.”

Autopsy reports, however, showed no traces of trauma or signs of carbon monoxide poisoning which disproved the original thoughts.

Jarrell disclosed that Hackman’s last active recorded data from his pacemaker was synced over a week prior to him being found dead on his Santa Fe property. Jarrell assumed Hackman’s death to be approximately around February 18 with the surrounding conditions indicating it was likely his spouse Betsy who died first, approximately around February 11.

Hackman’s death was also attributed due to Alzheimer’s disease as noted by Dr. Jarrell. “He was in a very poor state of health,” she claimed.