Gene Hackman’s Autopsy Confirms Cause of Death Unrelated to Virus That Killed His Wife – Explanation

When Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead under unexplained circumstances, it triggered a wide-reaching investigation and a flood of tributes for the man who defined American grit on screen.

Their deaths would reveal a haunting sequence of events — a story filled with mystery, medical surprises, and family questions that no one, not even those closest to them, could have foreseen. As investigators unraveled the truth, the full story of the couple’s final days began to emerge.

How Did Gene Hackman and His Wife, Betsy Arakawa, Die?

Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, were discovered dead on February 26, 2025, inside their custom-renovated home outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. The discovery was made after a pest-control worker, concerned by the lack of response, contacted neighborhood security, who then called 9-1-1 after spotting their bodies through a window.

First responders found Hackman near the kitchen, his sunglasses and cane dropped to the floor. Arakawa lay lifeless in a bathroom, where prescription medications — primarily for blood pressure and thyroid conditions — were found.

One of their dogs was found dead in a kennel crate inside a closet near Betsy. Two other dogs were still alive — one found inside the house, the other outside. The front door was unlocked, and the back door was left ajar, giving the surviving animals room to come and go.

Detectives reported no signs of forced entry, trauma, or environmental hazards like gas or carbon monoxide. Pacemaker data indicated Hackman had been deceased since February 17, nine days before being found. The advanced decomposition observed on both bodies aligned with this timeline.

The loss triggered an emotional outpouring from the entertainment world. During the 2025 Academy Awards, Morgan Freeman praised Hackman as “a generous performer” and “a man whose gifts elevated everyone’s work.”

Viola Davis and Francis Ford Coppola also honored his legacy, with Coppola describing Hackman as “magnificent in his work and complexity.”

For Hackman’s children — Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie — the loss was deeply personal. Leslie remembered that to them, he “was always just Dad and Grandpa,” highlighting a quieter, more intimate side of the celebrated actor’s life.

Yet amid the grief and confusion, a surprising error involving the family’s beloved pets added another layer to the unfolding tragedy.

How Gene Hackman’s Dog Was Misidentified

Early reports about the scene contained an error regarding the family’s pets. Authorities initially stated that the deceased dog was a brown German shepherd. However, Joey Padilla, owner of Santa Fe Tails pet care facility, clarified that the animal found dead was actually Zinna, a kelpie mix.

Padilla described the special bond between Betsy and the dog that died, recalling that Zinna “was always attached to Betsy at the hip.” He also shared that Zinna “went from being a returned shelter dog to this incredible companion under Betsy’s hand.”

Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Denise Avila acknowledged the mistake, noting that deputies are not trained to accurately identify dog breeds during such investigations. In the aftermath, the surviving dogs, Bear and Nikita, were placed into appropriate care.

As investigators corrected these early missteps, a deeper mystery about Arakawa’s sudden death would soon come into focus.

Gene Hackman’s Wife Died of a Rare Virus: What Is Known About It?

Arakawa’s death was eventually attributed to a disease carried by rodents. Dr. Heather Jarrell, chief medical examiner at the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, reported that Arakawa’s autopsy showed “no findings of trauma internally or externally with microscopic findings consistent with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.”

She confirmed that laboratory testing was positive for hantavirus, while tests for COVID-19, influenza, and carbon monoxide were negative. Pills found at the scene, primarily thyroid medications, were ruled out as a contributing cause.

While Dr. Jarrell identified the immediate cause, state public health officials provided critical insight into the broader threat of hantavirus in New Mexico. Dr. Erin Phipps, New Mexico’s state public health veterinarian, gave a detailed explanation during a briefing.

“There are many different types of hantaviruses found worldwide. These viruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted from animals to humans. Hantaviruses are carried by rodents. The hantavirus found in New Mexico — the Sin Nombre virus — is found throughout the state, primarily in deer mice but in other rodents as well,” Phipps said.

Although infections are rare, the risks are severe. Phipps explained that hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a rare disease caused by hantaviruses, with only a handful of infections reported in the state each year. “Over the past five years, New Mexico has confirmed between one and seven hantavirus infections in humans each year,” she added.

Since tracking began, 136 infections have been recorded across the state, with five of those cases occurring in Santa Fe County. She emphasized, “This is a serious disease — 42% of these infections here in New Mexico were fatal.”

Following Arakawa’s death, the New Mexico Department of Health conducted an environmental investigation of the Hackman property. On March 5, a risk assessment team examined the main residence and surrounding structures to determine the level of danger to first responders and family members.

Phipps explained that this was “critically important to address concerns about health risk to first responders as well as to inform any prevention measures needed to protect the family and other individuals entering the property in the future.”

The main house was considered low risk for hantavirus exposure, but investigators found signs of rodents in nearby buildings. To stay safe, Phipps advised using gloves and an N95 mask when cleaning, and airing out spaces by opening windows or doors for at least 30 minutes.

She also stressed the need for careful cleaning. After ventilating, people should spray the area thoroughly with a 10% bleach solution or a commercial disinfectant, let it sit for five minutes, then wipe the area with paper towels and dispose of them in a covered garbage can.

“Before removing gloves, wash your gloved hands with soap and water or with a disinfectant, and then after removing gloves, wash your hands again with soap and water,” she advised. She also issued a crucial warning, “It’s important to never sweep up or vacuum mouse droppings since this can spread particles up into the air.”

Phipps closed with a message of caution and sympathy, “Since hantavirus is found throughout New Mexico, awareness of these risks and how to reduce them is important for all New Mexicans.”

While Arakawa’s death was attributed to this rare but dangerous virus, Hackman’s autopsy would soon reveal that his fate was shaped by very different, long-standing health struggles.

What Gene Hackman’s Final Autopsy Revealed

Hackman’s final autopsy revealed a man whose health had steadily declined over many years. He suffered from congestive heart failure, severe atherosclerosis, and chronic high blood pressure — conditions that had already required major surgeries, including coronary bypass, stent placements, and an aortic valve replacement.

In 2019, he also had a bi-ventricular pacemaker implanted to help manage his heart function. Doctors found clear evidence of old heart attacks, with scarring visible on the heart tissue.

The autopsy also confirmed that Hackman was battling advanced-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Microscopic examination of his brain showed significant neurodegeneration that had quietly progressed during his later years.

Toxicology tests found elevated acetone levels in his blood, suggesting he had gone through a period of prolonged fasting or experienced metabolic stress. Tests for hantavirus and carbon monoxide were negative, ruling out environmental or infectious causes.

His passing was the culmination of years of silent deterioration, entirely unrelated to the viral infection that had claimed his wife’s life.

As the causes of their deaths became clearer, attention naturally turned to the fate of Hackman’s remarkable fortune and the complicated family dynamics it left behind.

What Lies Ahead for the Actor’s $80 Million Estate?

Hackman’s financial affairs were as carefully guarded as his private life. His will placed all assets into a living trust, shielding the details from public view. Although his estranged three children were not named in the will itself, legal experts suggest they could still inherit under certain conditions.

Santa Fe probate lawyer Thomas Banner, who is not connected to Hackman’s estate, explained, “There is no way to divine what the terms of the trust agreement are because trust agreements are intentionally private.”

Another potential avenue for contesting the trust lies in the precedent set by the 2009 Chapman v. Varela case, where the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled that a will or trust can be challenged under “suspicious circumstances” suggesting undue influence.

Such circumstances might reportedly include factors like old age and weakened physical or mental condition of the person at the time the trust was created; lack of consideration for the bequest, meaning a beneficiary appears random or unexpected; and unnatural or unjust disposition of property, where the terms starkly contradict previous estate plans.

Other red flags include active participation of the beneficiary in preparing the documents, domination or control by the beneficiary over the testator’s decisions, and secrecy or concealment surrounding the estate documents. These elements could form the basis for Hackman’s children to contest the trust, should they choose to pursue legal action.

Although Hackman was diagnosed with advanced Alzheimer’s disease, public records suggest he appeared lucid in interviews and public appearances as late as 2011, several years after his trust was last amended in 2005. That timeline could complicate any effort by his children to argue that undue influence was involved.

Whether a legal battle unfolds remains uncertain, but reports suggest the actor’s son, Christopher, has retained a prominent probate attorney — a sign that litigation over the $80 million fortune may be emerging.

Beyond the looming legal questions, Hackman’s life and career remain his true legacy. Though the circumstances of his death were tragic, he left behind a body of work — and a quiet dignity — that spoke louder than any headline. In his own words, he hoped only to be remembered as “a decent actor.”