On Friday, a medical examiner announced that Gene Hackman died of cardiovascular disease with Alzheimer’s disease as a “significant contributory factor.”
During a press conference, New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator’s chief medical examiner, Heather Jarell, also announced the cause of death for Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa.
According to Jarell, Arakawa’s cause of death was hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. According to the Mayo Clinic, HPS is a rare infectious disease that can cause flu-like symptoms and can affect the lungs and heart. “There were no other significant natural disease findings,” Jarell said of Arakawa’s death.
Jarell noted autopsies revealed no acute findings of internal or external trauma on Hackman or Arakawa. She went on to say that Hackman’s autopsy revealed “severe heart disease,” including multiple surgeries involving his heart and evidence of previous heart attacks.
Jarrell noted Hackman likely died around February 18, which was the last recorded day of heart activity via his pacemaker.
Arakawa likely died first, according to Jarrell. She announced Arakawa’s last known day alive was February 11.
This is a developing story…