Hollywood legend Gene Hackman may have unknowingly lived with his deceased wife, Betsy Arakawa, for nearly a week before he passed away, according to findings from the medical examiner.
The heartbreaking revelation comes in the wake of the couple’s tragic deaths at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Authorities discovered the 95-year-old actor and his 65-year-old wife in separate rooms of their residence on February 26, 2025.
Hackman was found in the foyer, while Arakawa’s body was located in a bathroom. Investigators believe that Hackman, who was reportedly suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s disease, may not have realized that his wife had died days earlier.
The cause of Hackman’s death was determined to be hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a condition related to high blood pressure and heart problems.
Read Also: Gene Hackman: A Legendary Hollywood Icon
Meanwhile, Arakawa succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but deadly respiratory disease caused by exposure to rodent droppings.
Authorities discovered signs of rodent infestation in their home, which is believed to have led to Arakawa’s infection.
Adding to the tragedy, one of the couple’s three dogs was also found dead near Arakawa’s body, while the other two were discovered alive on the property.
The state of decomposition of both Hackman and Arakawa suggested they had been deceased for at least two weeks before being found.
Despite the grim circumstances, authorities have ruled out foul play, confirming that both deaths were from natural causes.
Hackman, a two-time Academy Award winner known for films like The French Connection and Unforgiven, had largely retreated from public life in recent years. His final years were reportedly spent in quiet seclusion with Arakawa, his wife of over three decades.
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