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Gene Hackman, autopsy confirms: heart failure and Alzheimer’s

The Oscar-winning actor, 95, died in February at his home in Santa Fe. His wife, a victim of the hantavirus, was also found dead

Gene Hackman died of heart failure with advanced Alzheimer’s as a significant factor. This was established by the official autopsy results released by the New Mexico Medical Investigator’s Office. The Oscar-winning actor, 95, was found dead on 26 February in his Santa Fe home with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, and their dog, Zinna.

Arakawa had died on 11 February from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a serious rodent-borne infection. Autopsy examinations showed that Hackman suffered from congestive heart failure, severe chronic hypertensive changes, kidney damage, and advanced signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

According to the report, Hackman had suffered previous heart attacks and had been fitted with a biventricular pacemaker since 2019. He was not infected with the hantavirus. Environmental investigators later found the presence of rodents and traces of infestation in various structures on the property, although they considered the main residence to be low risk.

The autopsy also ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning, with levels found to be within the normal range.

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