A new update into the death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa has been issued by the police during a recent press conference where the confirmed both their causes of death.
The Hollywood star, 95, and his long-term partner Arakawa, 65, were found dead at their home in New Mexico after family admitted to not having spoken to them in some time.
During the conference, officials declared that Betsy died from a natural death which was caused by hantavirus syndrome.
Gene was also showing symptoms of significant cardiovascular disease and advanced Alzheimer's - the investiagtor could not confirm or deny whether the star had died of a heart attack.
She added he could have had an irregular heart rhythm which was not picked up on and could still be picked up in the coming days - she was keen to confirm that he was in the late stages of cardiovascular disease.
They predicted that Betsy passed away first a week before her husband, according to the results of the investigation.
Gene Hackman and his wife's cause of death has been confirmed
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Speaking on behalf of the investigation, Dr Heather Jarrell of the New Mexico Medical Investigator's Office explained that she performed an autopsy on Arakawa on 27 February.
Her cause of death was "natural" and was caused by the disease which is carried by infected rodents.
Hackman is suspected to have died around 18 February, the medical examiner claimed after information from his pacemaker was released.
However, the doctor was keen to confirm: "There is no reliable method to accurately determine [his] exact time of death."
Gene Hackman and his wife's cause of death has been confirmed
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During the press conference, investigators were asked if the dog that died in the home could also contract the virus, something they said would not be possible.
Connecticut’s Chief Medical Examiner, James Gill told People that it is “not likely” the pair took their own lives together after explaining: “I’ve seen cases like that – usually they’re together in bed.
Gene Hackman and his wife's cause of death has been confirmed
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"The fact that they’re in two separate locations tells me that I think that’s less likely.
"From the initial kind of circumstances, it seems like he may have collapsed — he's got a history of heart disease. He's got a pacemaker. So that would not be unusual.”
Gill also dismissed the theory that Hackman could've died from dehydration or starvation if Arakawa passed away before him.
The expert noted that the late stages of Hackman's Alzheimer's would have made him aware of her condition but not able to get the help he needed,
The police also shared the details of their movements be fore their deaths, sharing that Betsy picked up one of her dogs, Zinna, who was also found dead, following a procedure it had undergone just days before.
