Gene Hackman and Wife's Deaths Linked to Heart Disease and Hantavirus

The couple's bodies were found weeks after their deaths, with their surviving dog aiding first responders in locating Hackman's body.

Gene Hackman, 95, died from heart disease with advanced Alzheimer's as a contributing factor, while his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
The couple’s bodies were discovered on February 26, 2025, in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home, but they had died days apart—Arakawa on February 11 and Hackman around February 18.
One of their two surviving dogs helped first responders locate Hackman's body in a mudroom after initially finding Arakawa in a bathroom.
The estate of Hackman and Arakawa has petitioned to block the release of autopsy photos and investigation records, citing privacy concerns.
Hantavirus, a rare rodent-borne disease, raises public health concerns, though officials confirmed Hackman did not contract the virus.