It was confirmed at a press conference held by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office
Officials have confirmed at a Santa Fe press conference that Gene Hackman died from cardiovascular disease and that his wife Betsy Arakawa’s death was ‘natural’.
They confirmed that Hackman, 95, would likely have been at home for a week with his 65-year-old wife’s body.
Arakawa was confirmed to have died from Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
Arakawa is believed to have died on 11 February, and Hackman was believed to have last been alive on 18 February.
In the press conference held by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office today (7 March), Dr Heather Jarrell, of the New Mexico Medical Investigator’s Office, confirmed the causes of death.
The chief medical examiner 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.
“Examination of the brain showed advanced Alzheimer’s disease as well as blood vessel changes in the brain secondary to chronic high blood pressure.
“Laboratory testing performed at scientific laboratories division was negative for Covid-19, influenza and other common respiratory viruses, testing for Hantavirus was negative. Testing for carbon monoxide was negative.
“Additionally, there were no autopsy findings concerning for Hantavirus infection.”
The pair were both found dead, in separate rooms, on 26 February. Arakawa was found in their bathroom, and Hackman was found in their ‘mudroom’.
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Dr Jarrell went on to say: “Based on the circumstances, it is reasonable to conclude that Ms. Arakawa passed away first.”
They discovered this due to the footage and communications of Arakawa last being found on 11 February.
Hackman’s pacemaker was last sending data on 18 February.
Hantavirus, which Arakawa died from, is not a disease which is transmitted from human to human but is transmitted to humans by rodents.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed that, despite the causes of death being confirmed to not be criminal in nature, the case would stay open as there were still ‘loose ends’ to tie up.
This included an investigation into the corpse of their dog who died.
One of the couple’s three dogs died, though two survived.
