Gene Hackman Cause of Death: Actor Died a Week After Wife Betsy Arakawa
variety.com
Gene Hackman died of cardiovascular disease about a week after his wife died of hantavirus, according to the New Mexico medical examiner.

Gene Hackman, who suffered from Alzheimer’s, lived in the house with his dead wife for a week before he died.

Of the three dogs living in the house, one died because it was locked in a carrier and therefore probably starved to death. The two free-living dogs were the only ones to survive.

  • Nougat@fedia.io
    1411·
    2 days ago

    https://youtu.be/nWwKJxCa_Ao

    Notable points:

    • Betsy likely died on or shortly after Feb 11.
    • Gene’s pacemaker recorded last heart activity on Feb 18.
    • Betsy died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, likely transmitted to her by a mouse. Hantavirus mortality rate in the US southwest is 38% to 50%.
    • The pills in the bathroom were thyroid medication.
    • Gene’s cause of death was heart related. He showed severe cardiac and pulmonary problems, had a history of heart attacks and related surgeries.
    • Gene’s brain showed advanced Alzheimer’s.
    • Gene did not have hantavirus. Neither had Covid, flu, or any other common respiratory disease. No effects of carbon monoxide were seen.
    • No mention of the dog, but with the time frames involved, it’s not hard to speculate.
    • ripcord@lemmy.worldEnglish
      61·
      1 day ago

      Also, he was found to have not eaten recently, hut no indications of being dehydrated.

    • the_fuzz@lemm.eeEnglish
      29·
      2 days ago

      I read in another article that the dog that died had recently come back from a medical procedure at the vet, and was being kept in a crate. The two that survived had access to a dog door so presumably were able to get food/water outside.