Gene Hackman's autopsy reveals no hantavirus infection, which killed wife Betsy
Two months after Gene Hackman was found dead alongside wife Betsy Arakawa at the couple's New Mexico home, new details are emerging on the late actor's condition.
Hackman, who died at age 95 of natural causes, tested negative for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, according to a copy of the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator's autopsy, obtained by Paste BN April 29.
New Mexico's chief medical examiner, Dr. Heather Jarrell, previously confirmed that Arakawa, 65, died of the rare disease, which is contracted by contact with mouse droppings.
Hackman was pronounced dead Feb. 26. Following his Feb. 27 medical examination, his cause of death was determined to be "severe atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease," with Alzheimer's disease listed as a "significant" condition that contributed to the Oscar-winning actor's death.
The "Bonnie and Clyde" actor had undergone several heart procedures, as evidenced by coronary artery stents, a bypass graft and an aortic valve replacement, per the autopsy.
What is atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is characterized by the buildup of plaque – which can be made up of cholesterol, fat, blood cells and calcium – in one's arteries, per the National Library of Medicine. As time passes and plaque hardens, the arteries can narrow, limiting blood flow.
Risk factors for developing atherosclerosis include high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, family history, tobacco use and inflammatory diseases.
"Diseases linked to atherosclerosis are the leading cause of death in the United States and the world," according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
Meanwhile, hypertensive heart disease is caused by long-term high blood pressure, which leads to heart damage.
What we know about when Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa died
Officials previously revealed Hackman's various health issues during a March 7 press conference announcing Hackman and Arakawa's causes of death.
Though Jarrell said Hackman's pacemaker last showed activity on Feb. 18, the autopsy revealed his "last recorded cardiac activity" was a day earlier, on Feb. 17.
Jarrell shared at the time that a hantavirus infection was likely not a contributing factor in the Oscar-winning actor's death, although an environmental assessment of the couple's residence conducted in March found evidence of rodents across various detached buildings around their property.
Meanwhile, the medical examiner speculated that Arakawa probably died first, likely around Feb. 11, the last time anyone had any communication from her. Jarrell suggested that due to Hackman's Alzheimer's, it was possible he was "not aware" that his wife had died.
Although Hackman and Arakawa's deaths were initially described as "suspicious" by authorities (Hackman's body was found in a mudroom near his cane, appearing to have fallen, while Arakawa was in an open bathroom near a space heater), foul play was not suspected during their investigation.
Gene Hackman autopsy details other health struggles
The autopsy also noted Hackman's brain showed "microscopic findings of advanced stage Alzheimer's disease," including "neurodegenerative features" associated with the condition.
Regarding Hackman's cardiac issues, the actor's autopsy stated that Hackman had a "history of congestive heart failure," which included the installation of a "bi-ventricular pacemaker" in April 2019.
Additionally, "remote myocardial infarctions," or heart attacks, "were present involving the left ventricular free wall and the septum."
The autopsy report's release comes about a month after a New Mexico judge ruled that media records from the investigation of Hackman and Arakawa's deaths, including audio, autopsy records and videos, could be released to the public, provided that the material does not depict the deceased couple's bodies.
An investigative report released by New Mexico police April 15 revealed that Hackman was under the weather shortly before his death, according to The Associated Press and The New York Times.
On Feb. 11, Arakawa emailed her massage therapist to cancel an appointment, explaining that Hackman had woken up with "flu/cold-like symptoms," although she shared that he tested negative for COVID-19.
Contributing: Jay Stahl, Mike Snider, KiMi Robinson and Anna Kaufman, Paste BN