Dearly Departed of 2025

[robkelk]

RIP Gene Hackman

And the story on this one is starting to get weird...  Hackman appears to have been dead for a day or so before he was found, but his wife had been dead long enough for decay to set in and for her hands to start to mummify.

Today's paper said it was more than that. According to the pathologist, Hackman's pacemaker stopped sending signals on 2/17, nine days before his body was found. Tests for carbon monoxide poisoning also came up negative.

A formal announcement on the causes of death has been made by the Santa Fe sheriff. Betsy Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome on February 11 or 12. Hackman died from hypertensive atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's as a contributing factor, on on or about February 18. The sheriff's office is still investigating a few "puzzling holes" in the case -- in particular if Hackman contacted anyone after his wife died. He also appeared to have not eaten for a while before his death, although he wasn't dehydrated.

AP: Autopsy confirms Gene Hackman died from heart disease, notes his Alzheimer's and prolonged fasting

Actor tested negative for hantavirus, which likely killed his wife, Betsy Arakawa