Oscar-winning actor Hackman died from natural causes

Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman died after his wife and possibly didn’t know she lay dead in their New Mexico home for a week because of his advanced Alzheimer’s, investigators have said.

- Mike Bedigan, The Independent

On Friday, police and medical examiners provided an up-date on the death of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65. The couple were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on February 26, along with one of their three dogs.

Questions swirled over their deaths as police initially deemed them “suspicious” when they found no evidence of carbon monoxide poisoning. Heather Jarrell, chief medical examiner, revealed that the couple died from natural causes — but a week apart. It is likely that Arakawa died first, Jarrell said. Arakawa was found with an open prescription bottle and pills scattered on the bathroom counter. Her death was attributed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, Jarrell said. Hantaviruses target the lungs and can cause serious illness and death.