Authorities in New Mexico revealed Friday that Academy Award-winning actor Gene Hackman and his pianist wife, Betsy Arakawa, died of natural causes, ending intense media speculation over their mysterious deaths in their Santa Fe home.
Mr. Hackman, 95, succumbed to complications from cardiovascular disease and advanced Alzheimer’s, while Ms. Arakawa died a week earlier from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare illness transmitted by rodents, according to the Office of the Medical Investigator.
Dr. Heather Jarrell, the state’s chief medical investigator, said that Mr. Hackman’s death resulted from “hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor.”
“Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer’s disease,” Dr. Jarrell said in a news conference. “He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that is what resulted in his death.”
Officials determined that Ms. Arakawa died around Feb. 11, likely unaware that she had contracted hantavirus, which often begins with flu-like symptoms before progressing to respiratory failure.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the virus spreads through exposure to rodent excrement or saliva.
Authorities believe Mr. Hackman, in a debilitated state due to his progressing Alzheimer’s, lived in the home with his deceased wife for nearly a week before his own death around Feb. 18.
“Given his advanced Alzheimer’s, it’s quite possible that he was not aware that she was deceased,” Dr. Jarrell said.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza pointed out that there was no food in Mr. Hackman’s stomach, suggesting he had not eaten for some time.
Ms. Arakawa was last seen alive on the evening of Feb. 11, after she visited a farmer’s market, a CVS and a pet store before returning to their gated community at 5:15 p.m., according to Sheriff Mendoza. Her email inbox remained untouched after that date, and authorities found no evidence of further communication.
The couple’s deaths initially raised suspicions. With no clear cause apparent at the scene, authorities conducted a thorough investigation.
The two tested negative for carbon monoxide poisoning, and the New Mexico Gas Company found no significant leaks in their home.
Mr. Hackman, his wife, and a dog were discovered deceased during a Feb. 26 welfare check after friends and neighbors grew concerned over their lack of communication. Deputies found Mr. Hackman collapsed on the floor of the mudroom and Ms. Arakawa lying on her side in a bathroom.
A space heater sat nearby, and early reports noted visible signs of decomposition on her body.
Hantavirus is rare, with only 864 documented cases in the United States between 1993 and 2022, according to CDC data. While the virus does not affect dogs, it remains deadly to humans, often causing severe respiratory distress.
