Gene Hackman's cause of death confirmed two months after star was found dead at home with wife Betsy

The Sun

27-04-2025

GENE Hackman's official cause of death has been revealed after the Hollywood actor was found dead at his mansion in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The Oscar-winning actor was found dead alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, and one of their dogs on February 26.
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A caretaker raised the alarm after spotting Arakawa lying on the flood as he looked through a window of the property.
The bodies of Hackman, 95, and Arakawa were found in different sections of their expansive home after sheriff officials responded to a welfare check at the property.
Authorities later confirmed Hackman died of 'significant' heart disease, with Alzheimer's as a contributing factor, while Arakawa is believed to have died a week earlier from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
Official documents state: "Autopsy showed severe atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, with placement of coronary artery stents and a bypass graft, as well as a previous aortic valve replacement."
Investigators previously described how they believed the couple died days apart, and due to Hackman's advanced Alzheimer's, it is possible he did not know his wife was dead.
Heartbreaking surveillance footage was also found to have captured the final movements of Gene Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa weeks before the couple's mummified bodies were found on their sprawling New Mexico estate.
Two weeks before investigators stumbled upon the grim findings, Arakawa was captured on video keeping herself busy and running errands.
Surveillance footage showed Arakawa at a Sprouts Grocery Market self-checkout, purchasing groceries at around 4 pm on February 11.
Arakawa is captured on video wearing blue jeans, a dark coat, a scarf, and a black face mask.
Minutes later, Arakawa was seen on video stopping by Shine Pet Food store.
The surveillance videos showed Arakawa was unaccompanied as she entered and exited the businesses without any glaring health ailments.
The videos were part of a trove of documents released by the Santa Fe Sheriff's Office on Tuesday as part of their investigation into the deaths of Hackman and Arakawa.
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HARROWING FIND
Bodycam footage released by the Santa Fe Sheriff's Office showed the moment responding deputies arrived at the puzzling scene, where one of the couple's German Shepherd dogs was guarding Arakawa's body.
"Poor guy, he's sad," one of the investigators can be heard saying.
A separate video showed the moment investigators find Hackman's body in a separate section of the property.
"Two totally separate areas of the house," a deputy is heard saying, as another responds, "Mhm, it's strange."
One of the couple's three dogs was also found dead in a crate in a bathroom closet near where Arakawa's body was found.
The other two dogs were alive as one is heard barking in the background.
The video also showed deputies going through the rooms of the estate, checking for any signs of forced entry or foul play.
Investigators were seen counting cash that was found around the home, looking at prescription medication on one of the bathroom counters, and check the kitchen's stove after any potential gas leak.
The leak concerns lead investigators to begin opening doors and windows around the house.
A separate video showed technicians inspecting the home for signs of a gas or carbon monoxide leak.
However, a thorough inspection showed there were no leaks.
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