Autopsies for actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were released confirming Hackman died from advanced Alzheimer's while Arakawa died from a rare rat-borne disease.
Dr. Heather Jarrell, Chief Medical Investigator for the state of New Mexico, confirmed that there was no external or internal trauma to either Hackman or Arakawa, confirming that rumors of foul play are firmly out of the picture.
When news of Hackman's passing first broke, police suggested that there were suspicious circumstances to the couple's death.
This immediately set off a flurry of speculation about foul play being the cause of death for the legendary actor and his wife, who was substantially younger, further decreasing the likelihood that both died of natural causes at the same time.
Now, thanks to the autopsies conducted by the state of Mexico, we know the truth about the terrible last days for Hackman and his wife.
According to the autopsy, Hackman passed away from advanced Alzheimer's and cardiovascular disease about one week after Arakawa died.
It's estimated that Arakawa passed away on February 11th from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome in a room separate from Hackman. This is a rare disease that has flu-like symptoms and is carried by rats, although how she contracted this disease isn't known.
Hackman reportedly persisted for another week until he died on February 18, as he was dealing with advanced Alzheimer's and was possibly not even aware that his wife had passed away in another room.
The couple's dog also died and was found in a kennel as it had just had a procedure at the vet on February 9th, but Arakawa appears to have succumbed before she could take the dog out.
Arakawa appears to have succumbed quickly to the disease as she had communicated with a massage therapist on February 11th and attended a farmers market. As for Hackman, he was found lying on the ground after apparently falling.
Hackman was dealing with Alzheimer's and heart disease, which are being pinned as the cause of death. He was in no position to help himself and without Arakawa, it was only a matter of time before he passed away.
Hackman was a legend as he was a five-time Oscar nominee and starred in countless classic movies from the 1960s all the way up until the 2000s. Hackman was a household name for many Americans, but sadly, he was alone in the end.
The couple wasn't discovered until February 26th by two maintenance workers who saw them through windows at their secluded home. The couple was private and clearly weren't regularly checked on by either family or medical assistants.
It's surprising that Hackman wasn't regularly attended to by a travel nurse, but Hackman was known to be reclusive and private, and that carried through in his battle with Alzheimer's.
While the truth of Hackman's passing is finally settled, many fans and no doubt family are in shock at the circumstances of Hackman and Arakawa's deaths. This situation is a reminder of the importance of regularly checking on elderly family members.
