Gene Hackman and Wife's Deaths Attributed to Natural Causes

Investigators confirm Betsy Arakawa died from Hantavirus while Hackman succumbed to heart disease a week later, with his Alzheimer's complicating the situation.

Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, were found dead in their Santa Fe home on February 26, 2025, alongside one of their three dogs.
Autopsy results revealed Arakawa died on February 11 from Hantavirus, a rare disease transmitted by rodent droppings, while Hackman passed on February 18 from heart disease exacerbated by advanced Alzheimer's.
Investigators believe Hackman, due to his Alzheimer's, may not have realized his wife had died and lived in the house with her body for several days.
The couple lived a reclusive life, raising questions about why their deaths went unnoticed for weeks despite their prominence and health challenges.
Authorities ruled out foul play, gas leaks, or external violence, confirming both deaths as natural and unrelated to criminal activity.