Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman passed away from natural causes, likely around a week after his wife, according to findings from New Mexico’s chief medical investigator.
Heather Jarrell, chief medical examiner for the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, revealed on Friday that Hackman, 95, died from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a contributing factor.
His wife, Betsy Hackman, 65, succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease contracted from rodent droppings.
Jarrell ruled out trauma or carbon monoxide poisoning, which had initially been speculated.
She explained that hantavirus presents flu-like symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, and respiratory failure, and can be contracted through exposure to infected rodent excrement.
Data from Hackman’s pacemaker suggested his last recorded activity was over a week before his body was discovered by maintenance workers who were unable to access the couple’s Santa Fe home.
Jarrell estimated that Hackman likely passed away around February 18, while his wife’s last known signs of life date back to February 11.
