The cause of deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, have been revealed.
On Friday, authorities in New Mexico revealed the cause of death of both the Hollywood legend and his wife – who he had been married to since 1991. Dr Heather Jarrell, Chief Medical Examiner for New Mexico at the office of the Medical Investigator, shared the medical insights to the deaths.
In a details-filled press conference, Dr Jarrell explained that Betsy most likely died first, while Gene had died a week later – with his pacemaker recording information on February 18. The last known activities of Betsy were determined to take place on February 11 when she was last seen alive.
The medical expert revealed: “The cause of death for Miss Betsy Hackman, aged 65 years, is hantavirus, pulmonary syndrome. The manner of death is natural, autopsy, examination and full body post mortem, CT demonstrated no findings of trauma, internally or externally, with microscopic findings consistent with Coronavirus pulmonary syndrome”.
Dr Jarrell explained that no trace of COVID 19 or influenza was found within Betsy. She added: “Testing for carbon monoxide was negative. There were no other significant natural disease findings. Pills present on scene, or thyroid medication, which were being taken as prescribed and is not currently a concern for a contributory cause of death”.
The authorities went on to explain that hantavirus can be transmitted by rats and that warnings were issued to those entering the property to reduce the risk of others becoming infected. It was explained: “We did identify signs of rodent entry and other structures on the property and provided information and resources mission related to those areas. Hantavirus can be transmitted to people through rodent urine, droppings or saliva, so it is important to take special steps when cleaning up after vermin, avoiding contact with or breathing in aerosolised rodent urine or faeces, especially in a poorly ventilated area, is key”.
Attention then turned to the death of Gene, with Dr Jarrell revealing that there were several causes of his death – but adding it could not be confirmed that heart failure had occurred. She also revealed that the star had battled Alzheimer’s disease ahead of his death.
Dr Jarrell explained: “The cause of death for Mr. Gene Hackman, 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”.
She continued: “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”.
Earlier, a timeline of Betsy’s last known movements was uncovered, revealing she had emailed a massage therapist at approximately 11: 21am on 11 February and attended a local Farmers Market between 3: 30pm and 4: 15pm. She then visited a CVS Pharmacy in Santa Fe between 4: 12pm and 4: 20pm before then stopping at a local pet store at about 4: 54pm.
Police revealed CCTV footage showed her car returning home at 5: 15pm and that they discovered unopened emails dating from 11 February. Officers have petitioned phone companies to retrieve records of Gene and Betsy’s devices.
While the police did not specify an exact date of death of the musician, they noted that she had last been in public and active via email communication on 11 February. It was then revealed that Gene had died approximately a full week later – with the star’s pacemaker being a relatively reliable source of information.
Dr Jarrell revealed: “Mr. Hackman’s initial pacemaker data revealed cardiac activity on February 17, with subsequent pacemaker interrogation demonstrating an abnormal rhythm of atrial fibrillation on February 18, which was the last record of heart activity. Based on this information, it is reasonable to conclude that Mr. Hackman probably died around February 18”.
Insight was also shared into the death of a dog – whose body had also been found at the property last month. The couple’s pet, named Zinna, had been receiving treatment at a local veterinary practice and was retrieved by Betsy on the last day she was seen in public. Police surmised that the animal had undergone a procedure – with police stating: “]This] may explain why the dog was in a crate at the residence”.
Following the police statement, a member of the assembled press asked the authorities if it was possible Zinna had suffered from hantavirus too – however, Dr Jarrell firmly debunked the theory, stating that dogs cannot contract the disease.
Over the course of Friday’s update, an agonising timeline of Gene’s final days were laid out by the authorities. During a question and answer segment with members of the press, more details were revealed of what Gene’s final days could have been like.
Asked if he could have survived without his wife, Dr Jarrell said: “The answer to that question is that Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer’s disease. 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 in his death”.
She added: “I was able to look at fluid to determine if he was dehydrated, and I did not see evidence of dehydration. I did see evidence of very poor kidney function, and I think he died as a result of his his heart disease, and with Alzheimer’s being that contributing factor”.
She was then asked if Gene could have been starved in the days leading up to his death. Dr Jarrell replied: “There was no food in his stomach, which means he had not eaten recently, but he had also no evidence of dehydration”.
Another reported asked if Gene’s Alzheimer’s could have been too unwell to be aware his wife had died. Dr Jarrell replied: “I think that question is difficult to answer, but I can tell you that he was in an advanced state of Alzheimer’s, and it’s quite possible that he was not aware that she was deceased”.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza was then asked if the fact Gene had been found beside a cane and glasses could be interpreted as evidence he was trying to reach his wife to help her. The Sheriff replied: “That’s hard to that’s hard to answer. Again, it’s hard to get into the frame of mind of what was happening at the time. And I don’t know if we’ll ever have the answer to that question, whether he was going to vote for help”.
Asked if it would be fair to conclude that Gene had died of a heart attack, Dr Jarrell said: “It is a little bit difficult to say. I saw no microscopic evidence of a recent heart attack. However, those changes can also take some time to develop, several hours to develop, so that I can see it under the microscope. He could have had an abnormal heart rhythm. We already know that he was in atrial fibrillation on the 18th. And that that could have evolved into a more terminal heart rhythm”.
Asked if he suffered heart failure, Dr Jarrell replied: “Often times we see fluid around the lungs in heart failure and congestion of the liver. I did not see that in his case. But he had very poor, or very extensive heart disease. So he would have been predisposed to abnormal heart rhythms and hence he had a pacemaker as well”.
Oscar-winning film star Hackman, 95, and his wife, 65, were found dead, along with one of their dogs, at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Wednesday 26th February, and police initially said there were no apparent signs of foul play.
The alarm had been raised by a maintenance person doing pest control at the property, who was concerned because he had not seen the couple, police said.
Hackman’s body was found in a mud room, and his wife was found next to a space heater in a bathroom, detectives said in the warrant. Hackman’s daughters Elizabeth and Leslie, and his granddaughter Annie, said they will miss the actor “sorely” and are “devastated by the loss”.
A statement to the PA news agency said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy. 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”.
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