Heartbreaking Details Emerge From Gene Hackman's Final Days

Heartbreaking details have emerged from Gene Hackman’s final days on Earth.

The legendary Hollywood star was found dead in his Santa Fe, New Mexico home last month. Hackman, known for his roles in “Hoosiers” and “Unforgiven,” was reportedly found dead with his wife and one of the family dogs. Now, a little more than a week later, official causes of death have been released.

Hackman is believed to have died from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, there were also reportedly signs of “advanced Alzheimer’s disease.”

The longtime Hollywood star’s wife, Betsy Arakawa, is believed to have died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a rare rodent-transmitted virus. Officials confirmed that there were signs of rodent entry in the property, which likely contributed to her death. Hackman reportedly tested negative for the virus.

Tragically, Hackman is believed to have been living for about a week inside of the home, following his wife’s death. New Mexico Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said that Hackman was likely alone with his dead wife for about a week prior to his own passing. “It’s possible” that Hackman did not even realize that his wife had died, she added.

Hackman had reportedly been living with an advanced form of Alzheimer’s and he had reportedly not been eating much prior to his death. There was reportedly no food found in his stomach prior to his passing.

Arakawa had been found badly decomposed, according to reports, with “bloating in her face and mummification in her hands and feet.”

The family initially suspected that carbon monoxide poisoning was to blame for the deaths of Gene Hackman, his wife and their dog, though authorities later ruled that out. We now know that both Gene and his wife died from different illnesses or diseases. Tragically, it sounds like Hackman was living at home with his dead wife for about a week.