For ads-free news, click here.
From the New York Post: Gene Hackman lived with his dead wife’s body for a full week before succumbing to complications from heart problems and Alzheimer’s disease, officials revealed Friday.
Betsy Arakawa died of Hantavirus, a rare flu-like disease linked to rodents, the Santa Fe officials said.
Arakawa’s last left her and Hackman’s home on Feb. 11 which was also the last time she sent out any communications, according to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza.
She died of the virus likely that day, New Mexico Chief Medical Examiner Heather Jarrell said at a highly anticipated press conference Friday afternoon.
Hackman, who had late stage Alzheimer’s likely died roughly a week after his wife from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and from Alzheimer’s, Jarrell said.
Officials believe Hackman passed away on Feb. 17, as that was the last date that any activity was detected on his pacemaker.
Maintenance and security workers discovered the couple’s bodies in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, mansion on Feb. 26.
Hackman, 95, was found in the mud room of the home, with his cane and sunglasses nearby. His wife, Betsy, 65, a pianist, was found in a bathroom with an open prescription bottle and pills scattered on the counter.
The couple met in the 1980s and married in 1991.
BREAKING: Gene Hackman’s cause of death is “Hypertensive and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor.” Betsy Hackman died of “Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, the manner of death is natural,” chief medical examiner says pic.twitter.com/nhzCEOnlm0
— ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) March 7, 2025
Below is the full press conference held Friday afternoon, as authorities provided an update on the couple’s mysterious deaths.
Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter.)
The DML News App: www.X.com/DMLNewsApp
The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast archive is available below, with the most recent on top. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.
