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Dual tragedy: Gene Hackman died a week following wife's passing

Gene Hackman was suffering from advanced Alzheimer's, wife his sole caregiver
Gene Hackman was suffering from advanced Alzheimer's, wife his sole caregiver
10 Mar - The autopsy results for both Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Hackman nee Arakawa revealed that the actor died from severe cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease as a significant contributory factor, while his wife died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome a week prior to his passing.

The result was shared with the media on 7 March, with officials saying that Hackman might not even have known that his wife had died a week prior to his passing possibly due to his own very poor state of health. His wife had been his sole caregiver.

Hackman was not dehydrated at the time of his death, but was found with no food in his stomach. An examination of his brain showed that he was suffering from advanced Alzheimer's disease.
Autopsy revealed that Gene Hackman was suffering from advanced Alzheimer's disease
Autopsy revealed that Gene Hackman was suffering from advanced Alzheimer's disease
Dr. Heather Jarrell, chief medical examiner at the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, stated, "There is no reliable scientific method to accurately determine the exact time or date of death. Mr. Hackman's initial pacemaker data revealed cardiac activity on 17 February, with subsequent pacemaker interrogation demonstrating an abnormal rhythm of atrial fibrillation on 18 February. Based on the circumstances, it is reasonable to conclude that Ms. Betsy Hackman passed away first - with 11 February being the last time that she was known to be alive."

Meanwhile, Betsy, who was last seen in public on 11 February, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe respiratory illness caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents. It is noted that the early symptoms of the disease may be confused with influenza.


As for their pet dog, an Australian Kelpie mix that also died inside a crate in the room off of the bathroom where Betsy was discovered, the officials said that the said dog named Zinnia had been in for surgery recently, and this explains why the pup was kept crated and away from the other two animals in the home, the couple's two German Shepherds.

Prior to the police discovering the couple's bodies at their Santa Fe residence, it was revealed that Hackman had not spoken with one of his daughters in months, while his wife also had not made her weekly calls to her mother in Hawaii.

The couple had been together since 1991
The couple had been together since 1991



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