The world has now come to understand the tragic fate of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa. Known for his iconic roles in films like “The French Connection” and “Unforgiven,” Hackman was discovered dead alongside his wife in their Santa Fe residence just last month.
The discovery was grim: their bodies were mummified in their compound, with pills scattered in the bathroom. Their beloved dog was also found deceased. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed these findings and noted that no immediate signs of foul play were evident.
Elizabeth Hackman, the star actor’s daughter, speculated that carbon monoxide poisoning might be responsible for their untimely deaths. However, the revelations that came are somewhat unexpected, particularly concerning Arakawa.
During a media conference, a representative from the Santa Fe medical examiner’s office disclosed that Hackman succumbed to hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiac disease, with Alzheimer’s disease being a significant contributing factor.
In a shocking twist, Arakawa’s cause of death was hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a lethal disease spread by rodent droppings, primarily occurring in spring and summer when people encounter mouse droppings in poorly ventilated areas.
HPS was first identified in 1993 in the four corners region of the United States, impacting 52 individuals, with 32 fatalities.
Officials also revealed a somber timeline: Arakawa’s body remained in the house for a week after her death on February 11, while Hackman survived until February 17. It is speculated that Hackman, due to his Alzheimer’s, may not have realized his wife had passed away.
The cause of the dog’s death has yet to be disclosed.
JUST IN: Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease, but his wife died ONE WEEK EARLIER around February 11th of hantavirus, per authorities. According to them, Hackman walked around the house with her body still in it, alerting nobody. WTF? This story gets weirder and weirder.
— nicksortor (@nicksortor)
February 18, 2025
