Authorities have released new details concerning Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa's deaths over a week since their bodies were found dead in their Santa Fe home (26 February).
In a press conference today (7 March), Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza, along with state fire, health and forensics officials, answered a series of questions about the circumstances surrounding the pair's mysterious deaths.
Dr Heather Jarrell, the chief medical examiner, has now confirmed the pair's cause of deaths.
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She explained that Arakawa, 65, suffered from Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, adding: "The manner of death is natural.
"Autopsy examination and full body post mortem CT demonstrated no findings of trauma internally or externally with microscopic findings consistent with Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
"Laboratory testing was positive for Hantavirus at a clinical lab with required confirmation testing positive at scientific laboratories division, testing for Covid-19, influenza and other common respiratory viruses was negative testing for carbon monoxide was negative.
"There were no other significant natural disease findings, pills present on scene, or thyroid medication which were being taken as prescribed and is not currently a concern for a contributory cause of death."
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Dr Jarrell went on to say: "The cause of death for Mr. Gene Hackman, aged 95 years, is hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease as a significant contributory factor.
"Autopsy examination and a full body post mortem CT examination demonstrated no acute findings of internal or external trauma and showed severe heart disease, including multiple surgical procedures involving the heart evidence of prior heart attacks and severe changes of the kidneys due to chronic high blood pressure.
"Examination of the brain showed advanced Alzheimer's disease as well as blood vessel changes in the brain secondary to chronic high blood pressure.
"Laboratory testing performed at scientific laboratories division was negative for Covid-19, influenza and other common respiratory viruses, testing for Hantavirus was negative. Testing for carbon monoxide was negative.
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"Additionally, there were no autopsy findings concerning for Hantavirus infection."
Officials believe Arakawa died on 11 February, while Hackman is believed to have died a week after.
Hackman and Arakawa's deaths were previously deemed 'suspicious enough' for investigation, with a search warrant from local police revealing that the couple, who wed back in 1991, had been dead for 'some time' and were found in different rooms after maintenance and security workers showed up at the residence and alerted authorities.
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Hackman was found dead in a mudroom - a room designed for dirty or wet footwear and clothing - while Arakawa was found dead in a bathroom.
The couple's dog was found dead in a bathroom closet near Arakawa, while their two other healthy dogs were discovered roaming the property - one inside and one outside.
A sheriff's detective who responded to the scene said they believed the couple had been dead for some time because of Arakawa's 'decomposition' and 'mummification' in the hands and feet.
"The male decedent also showed obvious signs of death, similar and consistent with the female decedent," the search warrant added.
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Preliminary findings from a medical investigation also found that the pair suffered 'no external trauma'.
At the time, authorities also confirmed that foul play wasn't suspected, although they hadn't ruled it out.
In a news conference last Thursday afternoon (27 February), Mendoza told reporters: "It sounds like they had been deceased for quite a while, and I don't want to guess in reference to how long that was."
He added: "There was no immediate sign of foul play. Haven't ruled that out yet.
"This is an investigation, so we're keeping everything on the table."
Mendoza also said that Hackman and Arakawa may have died up to two weeks before they were discovered last Wednesday with the Superman actor's pacemaker last showed activity on 17 February - nine days before police were alerted of their deaths.
In an application for a search warrant, Detective Roy Arndt told a judge the circumstances of the couple's death were 'suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation' because the person who called emergency services found the front door of the property open.
There was no sign of forced entry into the home with nothing appearing out of place inside.
"There was no indication of a struggle," Mendoza told the media. "There was no indication of anything that was missing from the home or disturbed that would be an indication that there was a crime that had occurred."
Topics: Celebrity, Gene Hackman, US News, Health
Rhiannon Ingle