The Hollywood star and his wife were found dead at their Santa Fe home on 26 February
It has been confirmed that Gene Hackman likely ‘didn’t know his wife had died’ as the star’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis was revealed by officials at a press conference.
The shocking deaths of Hackman, 95, and his partner, Betsy Arakawa, 65, have been the focus of media for the last week, after the pair were mysteriously found dead in their Santa Fe mansion.
At a press conference held by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office today (7 March), the pair’s causes of death were confirmed.
Dr Heather Jarrell, of the New Mexico Medical Investigator’s Office, said: “The cause of death for Mr. Gene Hackman, aged 95 years, is hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor.
“Autopsy examination and a full body post mortem CT examination demonstrated no acute findings of internal or external trauma and showed severe heart disease, including multiple surgical procedures involving the heart evidence of prior heart attacks and severe changes of the kidneys due to chronic high blood pressure.”
It was also confirmed that a scan on his brain ‘showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer’s disease’.
Meanwhile, Arakawa was confirmed to have died from Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
Arakawa is believed by police to have passed away on 11 February, a full seven days before Hackman is believed to have died.
Dr Jarell told reporters: “Based on the circumstances, it is reasonable to conclude that Ms. Arakawa passed away first.”
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This has been surmised by footage and communications of Arakawa and the last registered date on Hackman’s pacemaker.
While speaking in the press conference, it was confirmed that it was likely Hackman continued living in their Santa Fe home for a week following her death.
The medical examiner added: “It’s quite possible that he was not aware that she was deceased.”
When asked whether Hackman would have been able to survive on his own, Dr Jarrell said: “I’m not aware of what his normal daily functioning capability was. He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that is what resulted in his death.”
It was also confirmed that Hackman was found with no food in his stomach, meaning that he likely had not eaten for some time prior to his death.
One of the couple’s three dogs was found dead at the property, with two having survived.
The cause of death for the dog is still to be determined, with an investigation underway.
Officials confirmed that Arakawa’s hantavirus case had been flagged to the Centre for Disease Control, though there are ‘no usual patterns’.
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