The authorities finally revealed the cause of death of Gene Hackman and his wife, who were found dead on February 26 in their home, and it was initially thought to be due to a gas leak.
The body of the 95-year-old actor was found at the entrance of his house located in the state of New Mexico, while that of Betsy Arakawa, 65 years old, was found in the bathroom with an open bottle of medication and some pills scattered around the sink.
Initially, it was believed that Gene Hackman and his wife had been murdered; however, according to the results of the investigation shared by Santa Fe County Sheriff Adán Mendoza at a press conference, both died from different illnesses.
Gene Hackman lost his life due to a heart disease and his wife died from hantavirus
According to the autopsy, Gene Hackman passed away as a result of a heart disease that was exacerbated by the Alzheimer’s disease the actor was suffering from.
While his wife, Japanese pianist Betsy Arakawa, died from the pulmonary syndrome caused by the hantavirus, a rare but potentially deadly virus that is transmitted through the excrement of infected rodents.
Hantavirus infection usually occurs in spring and summer, often due to exposure to mouse droppings in houses, sheds, or poorly ventilated areas.
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa had been married since 1991. The actor retired from the stage in 2004, with only a few special appearances on some programs.