Actor Gene Hackman And His Wife Betsy Were Found Deceased On February 26
Nearly two months after their bodies were discovered in their Santa Fe home, Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa have been laid to rest.
Hackman, who died at age 95, was an Oscar-winning actor. He was known for his roles in projects such as Unforgiven, The French Connection, and Crimson Tide.
Arakawa, who married Hackman in 1991, was a classically trained pianist.
The couple kept out of the spotlight in their last years. They found a sense of peace at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Sadly, that’s where their bodies were discovered on February 26. One of their dogs was also found deceased in the home.
Press coverage following the discovery of Hackman and Arakawa’s bodies was intense and often contained conflicting or corrected information. But as time passed and new details emerged, the public learned more about the couple’s final moments.
Autopsy results released by the lead examiner for the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator revealed Hackman and Arakawa’s causes of death.
Arakawa died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which the Mayo Clinic describes as “a rare infectious disease that begins with flu-like symptoms [that] progresses rapidly … It can lead to life-threatening lung and heart problems.”
Rodents are carriers of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, with the deer mouse being the most common carrier in North America.
Hackman’s cause of death was listed as “hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributing factor.”
Gene Hackman And Betsy Arakawa Laid To Rest After Small Memorial Service
PEOPLE reported on Tuesday (April 15) that Hackman and Arakawa were recently laid to rest. Beforehand, the couple’s closest friends and family gathered to honor them at a small, private memorial service in Santa Fe.
PEOPLE reports that Hackman’s three children were in attendance. He shared a son and two daughters with his ex-wife, Faye Maltese, who he was married to from 1956 to 1986.
Details concerning the location of the couple’s final resting place were not revealed.
New Information Released Concerning Hackman And Arakawa’s Deaths
While Hackman and Arakawa have now been laid to rest, people still have questions about their deaths. Hopefully, those questions will be answered as new information continues to emerge about their final moments.
Authorities recently released evidence that Arakawa was searching online about the symptoms of her illness shortly before her death. According to authorities, she also ordered oxygen canisters from Amazon.
Additionally, newly released documents indicate the Health Department “found rodent droppings throughout the Hackman property.” Since rodents carry hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, this finding could be significant.
Look below to watch a report on all of the information mentioned above.