Overview

• Gene Hackman, 95, died from severe cardiovascular disease with advanced Alzheimer’s as a contributing factor, confirmed by the final autopsy report released on April 27, 2025.
• Toxicology reports showed elevated acetone levels in Hackman’s system, indicating prolonged fasting before his death around February 18.
• Betsy Arakawa, 65, died approximately a week earlier on February 11 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease linked to rodent exposure.
• Investigators ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning and hantavirus as causes of Hackman’s death, confirming no signs of foul play or external trauma.
• The couple’s home was found in disrepair, with widespread rodent infestation contributing to Arakawa’s hantavirus exposure, as confirmed by health officials.