The deaths of two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa, and their family dog remain a mystery. The investigation regarding their passing revealed that the couple and their pet had been dead for some time before they were found.
They initially believed that the cause of death was due to gas leak and possible poisoning with carbon monoxide.
As of now, it was reported that the New Mexico Gas Company concluded its inspection at the home where Gene Hackman and Arakawa resided located at 1425 Old Sunset Trail. The company said in a statement that they had done thorough inspection of the residence for both gas leak and any presence of carbon monoxide and shared their findings with the authorities on March 5.
Inspectors didn’t detect life-threatening hazards but they did mark several red tags. One involved a small gas leak from a stove burner, with gas levels measuring 0.33 percent in the air – amount considered non-lethal by industry standards. The rest of the concerns were related to regulatory issues with the water heater and gas log lighters in the fireplaces.
Following the report, authorities said neither of these issues could be the reason that led to Hackman-Arakawa’s deaths.
Social media users were quick to share their thoughts on the findings of the Gas Company that inspected the home of Gene Hackman.
“A tiny leak is enough to kill,” someone wrote. “A minuscule leak is still a leak discharging poisonous deadly gas. And continuously will fill the entire house 😱,” another added.
The New York Post shared on Friday that prior to his passing, Hackman “was in very poor health,” citing New Mexico Chief Medical Examiner Heather Jarrell.
According to Jarell, the Hollywood icon died of hypertension and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s roughly a week after his wife’s passing.
“Examination of the brain showed advanced Alzheimer’s disease as well as blood vessel changes in the brain,” Jarrell said during the press conference, as per New York Post.
“It is reasonable to conclude that Mr. Hackman died on February 18,” she continued, based on evidence of a “cardiac event” recorded by his pacemaker.
Further, the medical examiner explained the autopsy and full body post-mortem CT examination showed the actor had “severe heart disease,” and a history of heart disease. Also, the autopsy revealed Hackman had severe changes of the kidneys due to chronic high blood pressure,” and had undergone “multiple surgical procedures involving the heart.”
Regarding Betsy Arakawa, Page Six reported she died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a rare rodent-transmitted virus. The cause of death was natural.
Knowing his mental state, it was possible Hackman wasn’t aware his wife was dead.
