The famous actor Gene Hackman passed away due to a heart disease, after going days without food, unaware that his wife, Betsy Arakawa, had previously died in the same house. The autopsy revealed that Hackman suffered from advanced-stage Alzheimer's, which possibly prevented him from realizing the death of his wife due to Hantavirus.
The autopsy report detailed that the 95-year-old actor faced serious cardiac problems, including congestive heart failure, an aortic valve replacement, and an irregular heartbeat that led him to receive a pacemaker in 2019. Although carbon monoxide levels in his body were normal, it is suspected that Arakawa may have died from Hantavirus, a disease transmitted by rodent droppings.
Gene Hackman's wife passed away on February 11 under circumstances similar to a pulmonary syndrome, although her autopsy report has not yet been published. Hackman apparently survived with his wife at home for a week without realizing her death. The investigation revealed that Hackman was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol but did show a low concentration of acetone, indicating prolonged fasting.
Investigators conducted interviews with workers and re-explored the actor's house for clues. During an inspection in March, they searched Arakawa's laptop and other related evidence. The toxicology report ruled out poisoning but evidenced an abnormal heartbeat in Hackman's pacemaker on the day of his death.
Hantavirus, a disease presumed to have caused Betsy Arakawa's death, is transmitted by rodents and their feces. Although it does not spread between humans, symptoms can be confused with those of common flu, including chills, fever, muscle aches, dry cough, and difficulty breathing. Timely diagnosis and treatment depend on the identification of these symptoms, as well as additional examinations to rule out complications such as kidney failure or low blood pressure.
