The mystery of the deaths of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, has been solved by investigators in New Mexico.
Gene Hackman, a two-time Oscar winner, died of a heart attack on February 17, while his wife passed away a few days earlier from Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome — a rare and often fatal disease transmitted by rodents.
Arakawa, infected with the virus, suffered a rapid deterioration in her health, with fluid accumulating in her lungs that proved fatal. Meanwhile, Hackman, who suffered from an advanced form of Alzheimer's, was found dead in another part of the house.
According to coroner Heather Jarrell, it's possible the 95-year-old actor was unaware of his wife's death due to his condition. Alzheimer's may have worsened his physical and emotional state, contributing to the fatal heart attack.
