Gene Hackman's death: Oscar winning actor lived with his dead wife for...check shocking details!

The shocking death of Hollywood actor Gene Hackman has left both the officials and his fans rattled. The Oscar Award-winning actor aged 95 was found dead at his home along with his wife- 65-year-old Betsy Arakawa and their pet dog. New Mexico’s Chief Medical Examiner Dr Heather Jerrell revealed that Arakawa died from a severe respiratory illness hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. It is a type of virus that humans contract through infected rodents.

Arakawa died much before Gene Hackman

According to Dr Jerrell, “He was in an advanced state of Alzheimer’s and it is quite possible he was not aware she was deceased.” The actor died due to hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease , information that was gathered from his pacemaker. It also revealed that Gene most probably died on February 18.

What is shocking is that Betsy Arakawa died almost a week before Gene Hackman and he may have lived in the house along with his dead wife without being aware of her being dead.

Legendary Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa & dog all found dead in their Santa Fe home.

The County Sheriff reports no immediate sign of foul play.

Such a brilliant actor. RIP. pic.twitter.com/t1e5znxPn6

— Mother Trumper (@lynnhowlett) February 27, 2025

The couple were discovered dead much later on February 26 along with their pet Zinna who was also found dead. Reports indicate that Arakawa had collected Zinna from a Veterinary Hospital on February 9.

Sheriff Mendoza who is handling the case said, “There was a procedure that was done with the dog, which may explain why their dog was in a crate at the residence.”

Gene Hackman died at least 10 days before his, wife’s bodies found mummified at New Mexico home, sheriff says https://t.co/q7bkK3lXnR pic.twitter.com/f2PV8Nc1yZ

— New York Post (@nypost) February 28, 2025

Gene Hackman, wife, and pet all were in different rooms

The police officials have said that all three of them- the actor, his wife, and the pet died in three different rooms, and there was no indication of any external trauma. Gene and Arakawa tested negative for carbon monoxide and further investigation is on to determine how it all happened. The last time people saw Arakawa publicly was when she was spotted on the aisles of Santa Fe’s CVS Pharmacy with her face covered with a mask most probably because of the lung infection.

Shockingly she died within hours after that. Arakawa was a very responsible pet owner and hence visited the local Gruda Veterinary Hospital regularly for her three pets. She never missed picking up medicines and food for her pets. The staff at the hospital tried calling her around February 17 but when after repeated calls there was no response they knew that something was wrong.

How they were discovered?

On February 26, a maintenance man who worked before on the property of Hackman came around to meet the couple at 1.43 pm. He was alarmed when he found out that the front door was ajar. On peeking through one of the windows, he found out that Arakawa was lying in the bathroom and called another maintenance man.

Subsequently, the paramedics were called and found out that Arakawa was dead. The couple had three dogs. The two who were alive were running here and there. At first, the officials thought they wanted to play but later on, followed them to the mud house at the other part of the house where they discovered the dead body of Gene Hackman. Despite the couple being dead, the two dogs survived because the back door was open from where the pets could come and go.