After the discovery of the bodies of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa in the early hours of the morning at their Santa Fe home in New Mexico on February 26th, concerns and suspicion arose regarding the state that the bodies were found in. Thankfully authorities have confirmed that both deaths were by natural causes

With the permission of the family, the autopsy reports were allowed to be shared with the Press. Dr. Heather Jarrell spoke earlier today stating that “It is an unprecedented event for the Office of Medical investigator to make public statements about death investigations, however the circumstances surrounding these two deaths require accurate dissemination of important information.”

Arakawa had been last seen on February 11th, suspected to be either the day of her death or the day before. It is said that she had succumbed to an infection triggering hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a fatal disease that humans can contract by becoming exposed to infected rodents. Evidence of rodents was not found excessively in the main house, though rodents were found in surrounding areas on the property. The virus is not contagious and is considered a respiratory infection that severely impacts the lungs.

It is largely suspected that due to his advanced case of Alzheimer’s, Hackman had no idea what had happened to Arakawa before passing away from a cardiovascular complications a week later on February 18th, now officially confirmed by the pacemaker after records were checked.  There has yet to be an update on the autopsy of the dog that was found dead in the bathroom with Arakawa. The previously unidentified pills near Arakawa were confirmed to be a thyroid medication that she was under prescription for.

With a confirmation on the causes of death, the investigation has yet to wrap up. Authorities insist on tying up the loose ends of the other unusual circumstances found in the house, such as the missing phones and the passing of the dog.

We send our condolences out to the family for their loss.