Gene Hackman died of heart disease one week after wife died of rare virus

By Mathilde Grandjean, PA

Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a week after his wife Betsy Arakawa died of a rare infectious disease at their home, a pathologist has said.

Two-time Oscar winner Hackman (95) was likely at home alone with the body of his wife for a week before he passed away himself, the sheriff of Santa Fe in New Mexico, US, told a press conference on Friday.

The post-mortem examination showed Ms Arakawa, also known as Betsy Hackman, 65, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome – a rare but potentially fatal disease which spreads to humans through infected rodent droppings or saliva.

Dr Heather Jarrell, chief medical examiner for New Mexico, told a press conference in Santa Fe it was “reasonable to conclude” that Ms Hackman died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome on February 11 at the couple’s home in Santa Fe.

Hackman died a week later on February 18th of “hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor”, the expert said.

The pair were found dead, along with one of their dogs, at their home in Santa Fe on February 26th.

Asked whether this meant the actor had been at home with his dead wife for seven days until he passed away himself, the sheriff of Santa Fe County Adan Mendoza replied: “Yes, I would assume that that is the case.”

Dr Jarrell said: “Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer’s disease. He was in a very poor state of health.

“He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that is what resulted in his in his death.”

Hackman’s body was found in a mud room, and his wife was found lying on the floor in a bathroom, detectives previously said.

Mr Mendoza said on Friday Ms Arakawa picked up their dog Xena, who was later found dead along with the couple, from the veterinary hospital on February 9.

“There was a procedure that was done with the dog, which may explain why the dog was in a crate at the residence,” Mr Mendoza told the press conference.

Ms Arakawa’s car was seen on CCTV footage at about 4.54pm on February 11th, and the remote control clicker that is assigned to her and her vehicle was used to enter the subdivision to gain access to the gated community, the sheriff added.

He said: “At 5.15pm, numerous emails were unopened on her computer on February 11th.

“There was no additional outgoing communication from her or known activity after February 11th.”

Tests on Hackman’s pacemaker previously showed that he was alive on February 17th when a “last event” was recorded, nine days before his body and his wife’s were discovered.

Dr Jarrell told the press conference: “Mr Hackman’s initial pacemaker data revealed cardiac activity on February 17, with subsequent pacemaker interrogation demonstrating an abnormal rhythm of atrial fibrillation on February 18, which was the last record of heart activity.

“Based on this information, it is reasonable to conclude that Mr Hackman probably died around February 18.

“Based on the circumstances, it is reasonable to conclude that Ms Hackman passed away first with February 11 being the last time that she was known to be alive.

“Lastly, clinically,hantavirus infection is characterised by flu-like symptoms consisting of fever, muscle aches, cough, and sometimes vomiting that can progress to shortness of breath and cardiac or heart failure and lung failure.”

Hantaviruses are transmitted to humans through the infected urine, droppings or saliva of certain species of mice and rats.

The mortality of the hantavirus strain in the south west of the United States is about 38% to 50%, and is not transmissible from person to person, Dr Jarrell added.