Gene Hackman & Betsy Arakawa’s Causes of Death Revealed in Autopsy

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Gene Hackman & Betsy Arakawa’s Causes of Death Revealed in Autopsy

A chief medical examiner in New Mexico has revealed the autopsy results of the late Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa. It shines a light on the couple’s respective causes of death, which had been ruled suspicious a week ago.

What were Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s causes of death?

According to a new report from the chief medical examiner for the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator (via Variety), Hackman died of a combination of cardiovascular disease and “advanced Alzheimer’s disease,” and likely died on February 17, 2025, nine days before the pair were found in their home.

“It is reasonable to conclude that Mr. Hackman died on February 17,” Dr. Heather Gerard said in a press conference with Santa Fe Sherif Adan Mendoza and other county officials (via Deadline). “He was in very poor health.”

Arakawa, according to the autopsy results, likely died a week earlier than Hackman, on February 11, 2025. The cause of her death was determined to be hantavirus, a virus that people can contract from contact with rodents like rats or mice, especially when exposed to things like urine, droppings, saliva, or potentially a bite or scratch.

According to Sheriff Adan Mendoza on Friday, surveillance cameras showed Arakawa doing errands on February 11, including visiting a Sprouts market and a CVS pharmacy. Messages from Arakawa also showed her contacting a massage therapist on that day.

Hackman and Arakawa were both found in their home on February 26, 2025. The pair’s death was initially deemed suspicious by Detective Roy Arndt. A prescription pill bottle was open on the countertop, with pills scattered nearby. Hackman was reported to have been discovered in the couple’s mud room, next to the kitchen, with his sunglasses at his side.

According to the detective, it appears as if both had “fallen to the ground.” A deceased dog was also found in the bathroom closet by Arakawa’s body, but two healthy dogs were still on the property. The front door to the couple’s house was left open, although there was no sign of forcible entry.