Final autopsies for Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa confirm causes of death
The final autopsies investigating the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, have revealed the classic Hollywood actor was suffering from multiple complex health issues.
Two months after the couple were found dead at their home in Santa Fe in New Mexico, final reports investigating their deaths have concluded that Arakawa passed away from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare rodent-borne disease, while Hackman had severe heart disease, according to Fox News Digital.
The reports allegedly also noted that Hackman’s Alzheimer’s disease meant he may not have been aware of his wife’s death in the six days between her death and his own, owing to the fact: “Remote myocardial infarctions were present involving the left ventricular free wall and the septum, which were significantly large.”
The autopsy also said: “Examination of the brain showed microscopic findings of advanced stage Alzheimer’s disease.”
Arakawa’s death was deemed to have occurred on February 12th, the last time she made recorded contact to another person by email, while Hackman was judged to have passed almost a week later, when the last activity on his heart pacemaker was detected.
Since the couple’s bodies were discovered on February 26th, mass speculation had arisen as to what had caused the pair’s deaths, with initial suggestions of carbon monoxide poisoning or a gas leak eventually being ruled out.
However, Arakawa’s death from hantavirus raised more questions after police investigations revealed that a rat infestation plagued their home and questioned why they didn’t have stronger care in place to deal with the issue.
A discarded plaster indicated that Arakawa may have contracted the infection after being bitten by a rodent.
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