It is unknown when a funeral will be held for the Hollywood icon Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy after their February death at their Santa Fe home.
The bodies of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, who is listed under her marital name, are still unclaimed a month after their tragic deaths. The couple were found dead at their Santa Fe home in New Mexico in February. It’s thought 65-year-old classical pianist Betsy died a week before Gene from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare respiratory illness that is carried by rats and mice.
On February 11, Betsy was last seen running errands while she was still alive. However, police discovered emails that had already been unread from that day and beyond, suggesting that she had passed away. Her 34-year husband, who had Alzheimer’s Disease, passed away suddenly at the age of 95. His pacemaker last gave a reading on February 18 for the first time.
Their deaths were not reported until February 26 when the grim discovery was made. Dr Heather Jarrell, Chief Medical Examiner at the Office of the Medical Investigator, said it was quite possible the Hollywood actor had been in such as an advanced state of Alzheimer’s that he wasn’t even aware that his wife had died. One of their pet dogs, who had been ill and to the vets recently, was also found dead at the property. Two other dogs were found alive and healthy at their home.
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Both bodies were taken to the Office of the Medical Examiner in New Mexico. Documents obtained by the Mirror state that their bodies are still yet to be claimed, 30 days later. The office publishes a list of unclaimed decedents every Monday and two time Oscar winner Gene and Betsy’s names are still on it this week, as of March 24. This suggests they have yet to be claimed so funeral arrangements can be made. The Mirror has reached out to the Office of the Medical Examiner for comment.
Dr. Jarrell confirmed that both of the couple’s deaths were caused by natural causes during a press conference in early March. The medical expert discovered that hantavirus, or pulmonary syndrome, is Miss Betsy Hackman’s cause of death, age 65.
The doctor continued, “We did find signs of rodent entry and other structures on the property and provided information and resources mission related to those areas,” explaining how Betsy might have contracted the illness. It is crucial to take special precautions when cleaning up after vermin, including avoiding contact with or breathing in aerosolized rodent urine or faeces, especially in a poorly ventilated area. Because of this, antavirus can be transmitted to people through rodent urine, droppings, or saliva.
Turning to the death of Gene, Dr Jarrell said there were several causes of death. She 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 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.”
Gene’s Alzheimer’s disease had advanced significantly, but the doctor later confirmed that he had not contracted the deadly condition that his wife had. In the end, his pacemaker was ultimately able to determine the day of his death, which was his last recorded cardiac output on February 18.
Dr. Jarrell responded, “The answer is that Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer’s disease,” when asked if the actor had been able to live without his wife. What was his typical day-to-day functioning like, I don’t know. His health was extremely poor. He died in his own death because of a significant heart condition, and I believe that was ultimately what led to his death. She remarked in a metaphorical way that she had no idea that his wife, who was deceased, was already in advanced stages of Alzheimer’s, and that it was possible that he had not known that she [his wife] was dead.
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Source: Mirror
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