Gene Hackman was found dead in his Santa Fe home late last month. (AP Photo: File)
In short:
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease and suffered from advanced Alzheimer's disease at the time of his death late last month.
Authorities said his wife Betsy Arakawa died of a rare virus a full week before Hackman.
The Santa Fe medical examiner said it was "possible" Hackman was unaware of his wife's death.
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died of a virus inside their Santa Fe home, authorities have revealed.
Hackman, 95, and his wife, 65-year-old Betsy Arakawa, were both found dead inside their home on February 26.
Hackman house always busy. Then it fell silent
Photo shows Actor Gene Hackman with wife Betsy Arakawa
The Mississippi Burning star showed severe signs of Alzheimer's disease at the time of his death, chief medical investigator Heather Jarrell said.
"I'm not aware of what his normal daily functioning capability was," she said.
Hackman's heart also showed signs of past surgeries and multiple prior heart attacks, according to Dr Jarrell.
She added that due to the "advanced" nature of Hackman's Alzheimer's disease, "it was possible he was not aware" of Arakawa's death.
Arakawa, who was found in the home's bathroom with an open prescription bottle and scattered pills nearby, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
The rare disease, spread by exposure to infected rodent droppings, is typically reported in spring and summer.
"Hantavirus is characterised by flu-like symptoms, consisting of fever, muscle aches, cough … that can progress to shortness of breath and [heart] failure," Dr Jarrell said.
"The mortality rate of [hantavirus] is about 38-50 per cent."
Arakawa's body showed signs of decomposition and mummification in the hands and feet by the time maintenance workers alerted authorities to the couple's open front door.
The pills found near her body, according to Dr Jarrell, were a thyroid medication and not connected to her death.
Hackman was found in a room near the kitchen.
Both appeared to have fallen suddenly to the floor.
Dr Jarrell said Hackman's doctor had spoken to her and cited the last signal from his pacemaker as February 17, likely his last day alive.
One of their dogs, a 12-year-old Australian kelpie mix named Zinna, was also found dead in the home.
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa had not been seen for two weeks when police entered the home. (Getty: Kevin Winter)
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza made the announcement alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference.
"There was no additional outgoing communication or activity from [Arakawa] after February 11, 2025,"
he said.
"We're going through some communications … but as of this moment I don't think there was any indication that she was feeling unwell."
He said there was no indication Hackman had used phones, email or other forms of communication before his death.
Investigators earlier ruled out both foul play and carbon monoxide poisoning, retrieving phones and other personal items from the home.
ABC/AP