New details are being revealed in regard to the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa.
In a police press conference on Friday, March 7, New Mexico Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell confirmed that the Oscar winner died due to hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributing factor. He was 95.
As for his wife, Dr. Jarrell revealed, “The cause of death for Mrs. Hackman is hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The cause of death is natural.” She was 64.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the rare infectious disease begins with flu-like symptoms, including fatigue, fever and muscle aches. After several days, late symptoms begin to appear, such as coughing and shortness of breath.
Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage Oscar winner Gene Hackman and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, were married for over 30 years before they were found dead on February 26. Hackman was first married to Faye Maltese from 1956 to 1986. The couple shared three children, Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie. Maltese died in 2017. The Superman actor went […]
The CDC reports that 38 percent of people who develop respiratory symptoms may die from the disease.
Infection is usually caused by inhaling hantaviruses that have become airborne from rodent urine, droppings or saliva. Because treatment options are limited, the Mayo Clinic notes that the best protection is to avoid contact with rodents and safely clean up rodent habitats.
In the United States, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is most common in rural areas of the West.
While it’s unclear whether any rodents were present in or near Hackman and Arakawa’s New Mexico home, the couple shared three dogs, including a German Shepherd named Bear and a second pup named Nikita. The couple’s third dog, a kelpie mix named Zinna, was found dead in a crate and “was always attached to Betsy at the hip,” according to Santa Fe Tails pet care facility owner Joey Padilla.
Padilla has started caring for Bear and Nikita following their owners’ deaths.
During Friday’s press conference, New Mexico State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Erin Phipps said dogs don’t get hantavirus. Starvation is a possible cause of death for Zinna. The dog was likely in a crate because of a recent medical procedure.
Declared as one of the greatest sports movies in film history, the 1986 flick Hoosiers starred the late Gene Hackman as high school basketball Coach Norman Dale. The famed film follows the story of the Huskers and how they went from small-town Hickory, Indiana to the state basketball championships. Hoosiers was loosely inspired by the […]
Us Weekly confirmed on February 27 that Hackman and Arakawa were found dead inside their New Mexico home one day prior.
After news broke of Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths, the pair were mourned by their loved ones in a statement to Us. “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy,” noted Hackman’s daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie, and granddaughter Annie. “He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”
Officials now believe Arakawa died on the evening of February 11, while Hackman died on February 18. The family was informed of the autopsy findings before the press conference.
