Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s Cause of Death Revealed
The Health and Last Days of Gene Hackman
Gene had serious heart illness, according to the autopsy, which included previous heart attacks, considerable heart damage, and severe kidney impairment from persistent high blood pressure.
He did not exhibit any symptoms of a recent heart attack, according to Dr. Gerald, but he did have an irregular heartbeat that might have killed him.
His brain also showed signs of advanced Alzheimer’s disease. Asked whether Gene might have known about his wife’s death, Dr. Gerald responded, “It’s quite possible that he was not aware that Miss Hackman was deceased.”
Gene was discovered in the home’s mudroom, close by with his sunglasses and walking cane. Authorities couldn’t tell if he had been trying to get assistance.
An explanation of the hantavirus
Betsy’s death was ascribed to the Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, an uncommon but sometimes lethal illness brought on by contact with contaminated rat droppings. Dr. Gerald described how the disease developed.
“Clinically, hantavirus infection is characterized by flu-like symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, and cough, which can sometimes progress to vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, lung failure, or cardiac failure,” she said.
According to experts, she most certainly experienced respiratory discomfort before collapsing, developing symptoms in the days preceding her death. The virus can cause symptoms to worsen quickly and has a high fatality rate of 38% to 50%.
Dr. Gerald responded that although dogs are not known to contract hantavirus, it is still possible that their dog, Zinna, could have contracted the virus as well. A necropsy is still pending after the dog was discovered dead in a box.
After testing the house, authorities had previously ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning. Officials confirmed that a little gas leak found on a kitchen stove burner was not serious enough to be a factor in their deaths.
Additionally, because there were no video cameras installed on the premises, detectives were unable to locate any security footage from either inside or outside the house.
Authorities Ask for Family Privacy
Dr. Gerald stressed that although the Office of the Medical Investigator normally refrains from speaking to the public on death investigations, he felt it was vital to make sure that appropriate information was shared.
“Please respect the privacy that Mr. Gene Hackman, Miss Betsy Hackman, and their family and friends deserve,” she said in closing, asking for the family’s privacy. Thank you.
Many were shocked to learn of the renowned actor’s and his wife’s demise. A Gene family member broke their silence and shared startling information about the pre-death plans and how they evolved.
Tim Hackman, Gene’s nephew, disclosed shortly after his death on February 26 that, because of their three-decade age difference, the family had initially intended for Betsy to arrange Gene’s funeral.
“So the preparedness of it was that he would go first and that we would probably, maybe, depending on whatever it was [Betsy] had set up, would go down there and pay our condolences and everything,” Tim, 51, said in an interview with The Daily Mail.
Those preparations were derailed by the sudden deaths of Gene and Betsy. “Now that this has happened, things are very different. I am unsure of what will happen—I assume that one of his children will take over—and [plan]. I’m not sure. Tim stated, “It’s still very, very early.”
He also disclosed that Leslie Hackman, Gene’s daughter, who had had the most direct communication with the pair, was the one who initially informed the family of their passing. They learned of the news on Wednesday evening, shortly before it was made public.
The family was not aware of any serious health issues, so the news was startling. He was old, after all. Though nothing was said, I’m sure he had some [health] worries,” Tim remarked.
At his father Richard’s funeral eleven years ago, Tim last saw his uncle. Gene’s brother Richard had served as his stuntman. Tim made it clear that Gene was still part of the family despite their time apart.
Gene, on the other hand, rarely traveled and favored a tranquil life. “He only came to California during the warm weathers, and then he just stayed in New Mexico,” Tim said.
Since Gene had gotten to the point where he was not very talkative with the family, Tim mostly spoke with him through Betsy.
“I was just basically giving her updates on my kids and how they were doing and how I was doing because our major connection was the military background, but that was it really,” Tim stated.
Tim credited Betsy with helping Gene live as long as he did and characterized her as his primary caregiver. Every time she said, ‘Oh, [Gene’s] doing good,’ He remembered, “I mean, he was moving around a lot for 95.”
Many people are still in mourning over the untimely deaths of Gene and Betsy Hackman, but the official conclusions now shed further light on their last days.
