Gene Hackman’s Wife Betsy Died At Least One Week Before Him; He Survived in Home Alone With Advanced Alzheimer’s Until His Death

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On Friday, it was announced that Gene Hackman passed away due to hypertensive and atherosclerotic heart disease, with Alzheimer’s disease being a significant contributing factor. Remarkably, he lived for a week at home with his wife, Betsy Hackman, after she died from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, a severe lung illness that humans can contract through contact with infected rodents, according to officials.

Hollywood legend and two-time Academy Award winner Hackman, along with his classical pianist wife Betsy, were found deceased in their home on February 26th during a routine wellness check. No signs of external injury were detected, but Hackman’s pacemaker data indicated that he had likely passed away on February 17th, suggesting that his body remained undiscovered for approximately one week before the discovery in a mud room adjacent to the kitchen. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated at the time that there was no indication of foul play in the deaths of the couple, who had been residing together in their home on Old Sunset Trail Road for over 30 years.

A postmortem examination revealed advanced Alzheimer’s disease in Gene Hackman, and authorities suggested that he might have been unaware of his wife’s passing for at least a week while he lived alone in their home. The officials noted that it was challenging to gauge the actor’s mental state before his wife’s demise but stated that he was in a very weak health condition, with no signs of food in his stomach. At the time of his death, Hackman was not dehydrated.

On a Friday at the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office, Dr. Heather Jarrell, head of the Medical Investigator’s Office, presented findings from autopsies performed on both Hackmans. The couple had been married for 30 years and led a secluded life in Santa Fe after Gene Hackman’s illustrious Hollywood career. Dr. Jarrell revealed that Gene Hackman’s autopsy showed signs of severe heart disease, including indications of multiple heart surgeries and past heart attacks. Additionally, the actor’s autopsy displayed significant kidney changes due to long-term high blood pressure.

A recent analysis of the brain revealed the presence of advanced Alzheimer’s disease, along with vascular changes due to long-term hypertension, according to Jarrell’s statement made at a press conference on Friday.

Approximately a week before Gene Hackman passed away, his wife Betsy succumbed to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, a serious lung disease caused by hantaviruses. These viruses are transmitted to humans via contact with infected rodents. Symptoms of the virus usually show up between one and eight weeks after exposure and can initially mimic flu symptoms. The disease can progress rapidly, causing severe breathing difficulties, low blood pressure, and potential organ failure.

On February 11th, Betsy Hackman was observed visiting both a CVS pharmacy and a pet food store. Notably, there were no opened emails found on her computer after this date, as stated by Sheriff Mendoza to the media.

He stated that there were no more outgoing messages or visible actions taken by her beyond February 11, 2025, as per cell phone data. We are collaborating with state police to retrieve information from these phones, but our investigation indicates that all the last recorded communication and activity on those devices took place then.

More to come.

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2025-03-08 00:56