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Gene Hackman and Wife's Death: A Sad Mystery Solved - Rare Virus Heartbreak and a Hollywood Icon's Farewell - MoviesMoly

It's always sad when we lose someone especially a Hollywood legend like Gene Hackman. Recently there was a real mystery surrounding his death and the death of his wife Betsy Arakawa. They passed away around the same time in their New Mexico home and people were wondering what happened. Now officials have released more info and it's a truly heartbreaking story of a rare illness and a quiet passing.

A Week Apart a Rare Virus and Heart Disease: Unraveling the Deaths of Gene Hackman and His Wife

For a while things were unclear. Gene Hackman was 95 and Betsy Arakawa was 65. They were found at home and at first there were no obvious answers. But investigators have been working hard to piece together what occurred. What they found out is really sad.

It turns out Gene Hackman passed away from heart disease. Specifically it was coronary artery disease and his advanced Alzheimer's was also a factor. That's according to the New Mexico Medical Investigator's Office. His death was classified as natural causes.

And Betsy Arakawa? Her death was also from natural causes but due to something completely different and much rarer: hantavirus pulmonary syndrome or HPS. This is a serious illness caused by a virus you can get from rodents. It affects your lungs and sadly it was fatal for her.

What's especially heartbreaking is that it seems Betsy passed away about a week before Gene. Because of his Alzheimer's it's possible he might not have even realized she was gone. It's a really tragic situation for the couple who had been married for over 30 years.

Hantavirus Tragedy: Betsy Arakawa's Rare Illness and a Silent Passing

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Hantavirus is not something most of us hear about every day. It's pretty rare. You can get it from contact with infected rodents like mice and rats mainly through their droppings urine or saliva. Often it happens when people breathe in dust that's contaminated.

New Mexico health officials emphasized that hantavirus infections are very uncommon. Over the last 50 years there have only been 136 reported cases in the state and sadly about 42% of those cases were fatal. Betsy Arakawa's death is a reminder of how serious this rare illness can be.

Investigators are still trying to figure out how she contracted the virus. They did find evidence of rodent activity in some buildings on their property but the risk inside their main house was considered low. Gene Hackman was tested for hantavirus and the test came back negative.

Betsy was last seen alive on February 11th running errands around Santa Fe. After that there was no more contact from her. It's believed she passed away sometime around then at their home.

Heartbreak and Alzheimer's: Gene Hackman's Passing and a Possible Unknowing Farewell

Gene Hackman's death was attributed to his heart condition and advanced Alzheimer's. He had been dealing with heart issues and chronic high blood pressure for a while. The medical examiner noted that Alzheimer's was a "significant contributory factor" in his passing.

Given his condition and the timeline it's believed he may have been in the house for several days after Betsy passed away possibly without even realizing she was gone. Officials mentioned he hadn't eaten recently and was in poor health overall. It's a sad picture of their final days together.

The couple were discovered after neighborhood security did a welfare check because they hadn't been seen. They found them both inside their home in a very advanced stage of decomposition. Gene was found in a side room near the kitchen with his cane and sunglasses nearby. Betsy was in the bathroom with some pills scattered around. These pills turned out to be her thyroid medication and some pain reliever not related to her death.

Key Dates: Piecing Together the Timeline of a Sad Passing

To get a clearer picture here's a timeline of the key events leading to the discovery of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa:

  • February 9: Betsy Arakawa's dog Zinna has a medical procedure.
  • February 11: Betsy is last seen alive running errands in Santa Fe and sends a morning email. Believed to be the day of her death.
  • February 17-18: Gene Hackman's pacemaker data shows heart activity until Feb 17 then abnormal rhythm on Feb 18 the likely day of his death.
  • February 26: Bodies of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa discovered during a welfare check at their home.
  • March 7: Official causes of death announced: Hantavirus for Betsy heart disease and Alzheimer's for Gene.

This timeline paints a picture of a tragic situation where two people passed away from natural causes within a short time of each other in their own home.

A Quiet Life Remembered: Privacy Legacy and an Iconic Career

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa lived a private life in Santa Fe away from the Hollywood spotlight in recent years. Friends described their life as peaceful and secluded. Betsy was known to be a private person who cherished her life with Gene.

Gene Hackman will be remembered as a true Hollywood icon . He won two Oscars one for Best Actor in "The French Connection" and another for Best Supporting Actor in "Unforgiven." He had an incredible career spanning over 100 roles in movies like "Bonnie and Clyde" "Superman" "Scarecrow" and "Young Frankenstein." His last film role was in 2004 after which he retired to enjoy a quieter life.

Their passing is a sad end to a love story and a reminder of the fragility of life. They will both be missed.