The authorities revealed the causes of the death of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, more than a week after the couple was mysteriously dead in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Hackman died of cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s disease probably around February 18, approximately one week after his wife died from a rare syndrome, Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, around February 11, authorities said.
Hackman’s death was “hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor,” he announced at a press conference.
“Mr. Hackman showed evidence of Alzheimer’s advanced disease,” he said. “I was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think, ultimately, that is what resulted in his death.”
Arakawa died of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease transmitted through the urine of rodents, excrement or saliva, authorities said.
The centers for disease control and prevention said that the disease “initially causes flu -like symptoms that can progress to a more serious disease where people have problems breathing.”
Hackman was probably at home with his deceased wife for a week before he died, said the Sheriff of Santa Fe County, Adan Mendoza. There was no food in the stomach, which means that I had not eaten recently, but neither had evidence of dehydration, authorities said.
Sherif Adan Mendoza speaks at a press conference on March 7, 2025.
Pool through ABC News
The 95 -year -old academy prize actor, and his 65 -year -old wife, were found dead during a welfare check of February 26, without obvious signs of how they died, Sheriff’s office said.
The authorities said last week that the couple gave negative for carbon monoxide. The New Mexico gas company also concluded its research on carbon monoxide at home, saying that “there were no significant findings” of leaks.
The authorities said last week that their deaths were “of nature sufficiently suspicious to require an exhaustive search and investigation,” according to an affidavit of registration order.
Gene Hackman arrives with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, for the 60th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on January 19, 2003.
Mark J. Terrill/Ap
Hackman was discovered on the floor of the mud room, according to the search warrant. It seemed that he fell suddenly, and he and his wife “showed obvious signs of death,” the document said.
It is believed that Hackman died on February 17, nine days before the bodies were found, said Mendoza, and pointed out that this was the date of the last “event” recorded in his pacemaker.
Arakawa was found lying sideways on the floor in a bathroom, with a space heater near his body, according to the search warrant. His body showed signs of decomposition; There was mummification in his hands and feet, according to the document.
In the counter near Arakawa there was an open recipe bottle, with scattered pills, according to the search warrant. It was determined that the pills were thyroid medications that were being taken as prescribed and did not seem to have any contribution to their death, authorities said Friday.
One of the three dogs of the couple was found dead in a box about 10 to 15 feet from Arakawa’s body, authorities said.
The house owned by actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, on February 27, 2025, in Santa Fe, NM
Roberto E. Rosales/AP
But his other two dogs were found alive. It seemed that they had access to a dog door; According to Mendoza, a dog was found near Arakawa and the other was located outside.
The Sheriff on Friday described the last days of Arakawa.
On February 9, Arakawa collected one of his three dogs, the dog that was later found dead in the house with the couple, from a veterinary hospital after a procedure, which can explain why the dog was discovered in a cage when the bodies were found, said the sheriff.
On the afternoon of February 11, Arakawa went to the farmers, CVS and a pet food store, and entered his closed community at 5:15 pm, said the Sheriff.
There is no evidence that he had any communication after February 11, said the Sheriff, saying that all his emails were not read after that date.
It is possible that the dog died due to lack of access to food and water, said Dr. Erin Phipps, veterinary of the New Mexico Department of Health, but officials expect the results of necropsy.
The dogs do not get sick from Hantavirus, he said.
