Oscar-Winning Actor Gene Hackman Passes Away a Week After Wife Betsy Arakawa:

An investigator from New Mexico disclosed that Oscar winning actor Gene Hackman died of natural causes roughly one week after his wife Betsy Arakawa, who died after suffering from a rare form of virus. Arakawa was suffering from a rare virus. \n\nHackman, 95, passed away at his home in Santa Fe due to coronary artery disease coupled with advanced Alzheimer's disease which severely contributed to his condition.\n\nHis wife, 65 years of age, passed away in the same residence due to a respiratory disease caused by rodents known as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. Natural causes were deemed with her demise as well.\n\nIt is believed that she died roughly a week prior to her husband, thus having him survive greater than thirty years. He was an award winning actor who had won two accolade for The French Connection and Unforgiven. \n\nOn February 11, Ms. Arakawa is believed to have passed away first, as per speculation done by Heather Jarrell, M.D of New Mexico Medical Investigator's Office based on the information provided to them by the family. \n\nDuring the news briefing, it was stated by Hackman that it is reasonable to conclude Hackman passed away around February 18.\n\nFinal observations of Arakawa did not exceed February 11 where her final activities noted had her leaving home to go to a supermarket, followed by a CVS pharmacy, and finally a pet shop from which she returned back home by evening.

Dr. Jarrell said, “It’s quite possible that he wasn’t aware that she [his wife] had passed away because Hackman was in the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease.”

Jarrell claims he suffered chronic hypertension. “He had significant cardiac disease, and that’s what caused his death,” she said.

She claimed that while he had not consumed any food recently, he did not appear to be dehydrated.

Dr Erin Phipps from New Mexico claims that these infections are truly uncommon, and that’s why she chose to spotlight it at the conference.

Often, the inhalation of contaminated dust leads to Hand-foot-and-mouth disease being spread by coming into contact with rodent feces, urine, or saliva.

She pointed out that 136 instances had been recorded in the state over the span of five decades, with 42 percent of them being fatal.

Though the risk within the principal house was deemed “low,” Dr. Phipps reported that some structures on the property did display evidence of rodent activity, which is why there’s so much risk.

Hackman is positive for Hantavirus, and investigators are still looking for ways to figure out how Ms. Arakawa got the disease.

After neighborhood security performed a welfare check, the couple was discovered in their home with their bodies sprawled on the floor.

Their remains were found in a profoundly decayed state.

As per a search warrant affidavit, Hackman's body was discovered next to the kitchen in a side room, positioned near a walking cane and a pair of sunglasses.

Ms Arakawa was found in the bathroom with her body surrounded by scattered pills.

Per the court inventory, sheriff's deputies located the over-the-counter pain medication Tylenol and thyroid and blood pressure prescription medication.

Authorities did not confirm which individual had been prescribed the medication due to privacy rights.

The couple had three dogs and one was found lifeless in a crate next to Ms Arakawa's body, but the other two were still alive.

The cause of death for the dog remains unknown. According to Dr. Phipps, dogs do not get sick from the hantavirus, and his statement proves he was not concerned with the dog dying.

At first, it appeared there was no forced entry or any foul play at the couple's £3 million home. There was also no carbon monoxide poisoning nor significant gas leaks detected.

His three adult children from a prior marriage are the only ones who will mourn Hackman’s death.

The New York Times reported that Hackman met Ms. Arakawa in the mid-1980s; she was working part-time at a gym in California.

In 1971, he received his first Oscar for best actor as Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle in William Friedkin's thriller The French Connection along with winning best supporting actor in 1992 for Clint Eastwood’s Western Unforgiven as Little Bill Daggett.

Hackman had a Hollywood breakthrough in his thirties after earning his first nomination which was for an Oscar for Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde in 1967 with Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway. Then for I Never Sang for My Father in 1970.

He won his first of many Oscars in the supporting actor role, along with numerous additional nominations, including best leading actor for his performance as an FBI agent in Mississippi Burning in 1988.

During his career, he played over 100 roles; among them he starred as supervillain Lex Luthor in the Superman franchise alongside Christopher Reeve in the 1970s-1980s.

In 1973, Hackman starred alongside Al Pacino in Scarecrow, then in 1974 with Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein.

After withdrawing from Hollywood and moving to New Mexico for a quieter life, his last appearance on the silver screen was in 2004 as Monroe Cole in Welcome to Mooseport.