Authorities have revealed the causes of death of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa.
Hackman died from “hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor,” said Dr. Heather Jarrell, chief medical investigator for New Mexico’s Office of the Medical Investigator.
Meanwhile, Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease carried by rodents, which is described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as initially causing “flu-like symptoms that can progress to more severe illness where people have trouble breathing.”
It’s estimated the couple died around one week apart, with Hackman passing around February 18th following his wife’s death on February 11th.
Investigators have said it’s possible Hackman did not know his wife had died due to the Alzheimer’s disease.
