Everything we know about Gene Hackman and his wife’s deaths – and the questions that still remain

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their New Mexico home (Picture: AP / REX)

The mysterious and heartbreaking deaths of Hollywood actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have finally been mostly untangled, a week after their bodies were found in a state of decomposition.

The Unforgiven actor died aged 95 in the mud room next to the kitchen of his and Arakawa’s New Mexico home. His glasses and walking cane were strewn on the floor beside him.

Awakawa’s body, aged 65, was found on the bathroom floor, with a box of pills scattered nearby, and a deceased dog next to her in a cage.

The scene was bizarre enough to warrant an investigation, which found there was no – as originally suspected – carbon monoxide poisoning involved.

Now, all the details of how the couple came to die in tragic circumstances have been revealed through last night’s press conference, with only a few questions remaining.

Here is everything we know about Hackman and Arakawa’s death – and what we still don’t.

Their dog was also dead in the bathroom next to Arakawa’s body (Picture: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) What was Gene Hackman’s cause of death?

Gene Hackman’s cause of death was due to heart disease, with advanced Alzheimer’s disease ‘as a significant contributory factor’.

He is thought to have died on February 18, when the last activity on his pacemaker was recorded, which was a week after his wife’s death.

Addressing reporters at the press conference, New Mexico Chief Medical Investigator Dr Heather Jarrell said she saw no evidence that Hackman was dehydrated, but found no food in his stomach during the autopsy, meaning he ‘had not eaten recently’ when he died.

His body showed evidence of ‘prior heart attacks’, heart surgery, and ‘very poor kidney’ function due to ‘chronic high blood pressure’.

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Officials concluded that he was in a ‘very poor state of health’ when he died, but they could not, when asked, attribute his death to the single event of heart failure.

Due to his ‘advanced’ Alzheimer’s, Jarrell said it was ‘quite possible’ that Hackman was unaware that Arakawa had died for the six days he lived in the house until his own death.

What is Hantavirus, the cause of Betsy Arakawa’s death?

Arakawa is believed to have died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome on February 11,almost a week before her husband’s death.

According to the Mayo Clinic, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a rare infectious disease which can be carried by different types of rodents.

Infection is usually caused by inhaling hantaviruses that have become airborne from rodent urine, droppings or saliva.

It is not transmitted from person to person.

Explaining the rare hantavirus infection, Jarrell explained it shows up as flu-like symptoms, but can progress to ‘shortness of breath, heart failure, and lung failure’.

The full timeline of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's deaths

Police say Hackman likely died on February 18, almost a week after his wife Arakawa is thought to have died, on February 11.

On February 9 Arakawa took the dog, who was found deceased in the crate, to the vets for a procedure.

On February 11 Arakawa sent her last email – to her massage therapist – at around 11am. In the afternoon, she took a trip to a farmer’s market, CVS pharmacy and a pet food shop.

Her car was used to gain access back into the gated community after 5pm. She did not have any ongoing communication or activity in the local area after February 11, although police are still waiting for her mobile phone data.

Gene Hackman’s pacemaker detected cardiac activity on February 17, and an abnormal rhythm on February 18, when activity stopped.

Their bodies were discovered on February 26, 15 days after Arakawa was thought to have died, and eight days after Hackman’s pacemaker recorded its last heartbeat.

What are the questions we don’t have answers to yet about Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s deaths

The deceased dog is being examined, with an official cause of death yet to be revealed.

Police are also still waiting on mobile phone data to determine whether communication was attempted by Hackman in the days following his wife’s death, however, at the moment there is no evidence of such efforts.

They are also awaiting Arakawa’s mobile phone data from February 11.

It is also unclear what Arakawa was doing at the pharmacy on the day she died.

How did Gene Hackman’s dog die?

Given the timelines it is ‘possible’, officials say, that the dog died of starvation and dehydration in its crate.

Arakawa’s trip to the vets with the dog two days before her death could explain why it was stuck in a crate.

The mysterious deaths have a heartbreaking explanation (Picture: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) What was the box of pills found next to Betsy Arakawa?

Officials said the pills found scattered close to Arakawa’s body were prescription medication for thyroids.

What have Gene Hackman’s children said?

Hackman’s daughters Elizabeth and Leslie and granddaughter Annie released a statement announcing the news, but have not spoken out since.

‘It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy,’ they said.

‘He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.’

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