Gene Hackman and wife’s causes of death revealed

The causes of deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were revealed by authorities on Friday, more than one week after the couple was mysteriously found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home.

Hackman died from “hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor,” Dr. Heather Jarrell, chief medical investigator for the state’s Office of the Medical Investigator, said.

“Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer’s disease,” she said. “He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that is what resulted in his in his death.”

Hackman probably died around Feb. 18 and his wife likely died from a rare virus around Feb. 11, Jarrell said.

Hackman was likely home with his deceased wife for one week before he died, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said. There was no food in his stomach, which means he had not eaten recently, but he had also no evidence of dehydration, officials said.

Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease transmitted through rodent urine, droppings or saliva, officials said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the disease “initially causes flu-like symptoms that can progress to more severe illness where people have trouble breathing.”

The Academy Award-winning actor, 95, and his wife, 65, were found dead during a Feb. 26 welfare check, with no obvious signs of how they died, the sheriff’s office said.

Authorities said last week that the couple tested negative for carbon monoxide. The New Mexico Gas Company also concluded its investigation for carbon monoxide at the home, saying there were “no significant findings” of leaks.

Authorities said last week that their deaths were “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation,” according to a search warrant affidavit.

Hackman was discovered on the floor in the mud room, according to the search warrant. It appeared he fell suddenly, and he and his wife “showed obvious signs of death,” the document said.

Hackman is believed to have died on Feb. 17 — nine days before the bodies were found — Mendoza said, noting that was the date of the last recorded “event” on his pacemaker.

Arakawa was found lying on her side on the floor in a bathroom, with a space heater near her body, according to the search warrant. Her body showed signs of decomposition; there was mummification to her hands and feet, the document said.

On the counter near Arakawa was an opened prescription bottle, with pills scattered, according to the search warrant. The pills were determined to be thyroid medication that was being taken as prescribed and did not appear to have any contribution to her death, officials said on Friday.

One of the couple’s three dogs was found dead in a crate about 10 to 15 feet from Arakawa’s body, officials said.

But their two other dogs were found alive. It appeared they had access to a doggy door; one dog was found near Arakawa’s body and the other was located outside, according to Mendoza.

The sheriff on Friday outlined Arakawa’s final days.

On Feb. 9, Arakawa picked up one of their three dogs — the dog who was later found dead in the home with the couple — from a vet hospital after a procedure, which may explain why the dog was discovered in a crate when the bodies were found, the sheriff said.

On the afternoon of Feb. 11, Arakawa went to a farmer’s market, CVS and a pet food store, and entered her gated community at 5:15 p.m., the sheriff said.

There’s no evidence she had any communication after Feb. 11, the sheriff said, saying all of her emails were unread after that date.

Officials are awaiting results of the deceased dog’s necropsy, the sheriff said.

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Stephen Collopy

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