Gene Hackman & Wife’s Cause Of Death Revealed After Extended Investigation

Gene Hackman‘s cause of death, as well as that of his wife Betsy Arakawa, has been revealed. The legendary actor was found dead in his New Mexico home on Wednesday, February 26. His wife was also found dead alongside him, as well as their dog. In the immediate aftermath, local authorities deemed their deaths suspicious, as there was no clear cause and no visible signs of harm. A gas leak was also swiftly ruled out. An investigation soon began as industry figures and fans mourned Hackman’s passing.

Now, the New Mexico Chief Medical Examiner has announced that Hackman died of “advanced Alzheimer’s disease” and severe heart disease (per Deadline). Though he was found on February 26, the medical examiner believed he actually passed on February 18, and there was evidence he had not eaten in several days. Arakawa, meanwhile, appeared to have died from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome; she died either on or around February 11. During a press conference, Dr. Heather Jarrell said:

It is reasonable to conclude that Mr. Hackman died on February 18. He was in very poor health.

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.

I’d like to kindly ask for everyone to please respect the privacy that Mr. Gene Hackman, Miss Betsy Hackman, and their family and friends, deserve.

More to come…

Source: Deadline