Gene Hackman’s final autopsy, released two months after his passing at the age of 95, sheds light on his long-standing health issues.
The report, filed by New Mexico’s Office of the Medical Investigator, attributes his death to complications from heart disease, including congestive heart failure, chronic hypertensive kidney disease, and advanced Alzheimer’s disease.
Hackman had previously undergone numerous heart procedures, including coronary artery stents, a bypass graft, and an aortic valve replacement, alongside the implantation of a bi-ventricular pacemaker in 2019.
The autopsy also notes trace amounts of acetone in his system, suggesting prolonged fasting in the weeks leading to his death.
Adding to the tragic nature of the report, Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa, died just a week earlier from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare illness contracted from rodents. G
Given Hackman’s advanced Alzheimer’s, authorities suspect he may not have been aware of his wife’s death at the time.
While both deaths initially raised suspicions due to their timing and the discovery of rodent infestations in the couple’s home, investigations later confirmed that the deaths were due to natural causes.
