The final autopsy report of renowned actor Gene Hackman has emerged, illuminating new dimensions of his tragic demise. According to the Office of the Medical Investigator in New Mexico, Hackman succumbed to complications from “congestive heart failure” and “severe chronic hypertensive changes” affecting his kidneys. Furthermore, the autopsy revealed
neurodegenerative features consistent with Alzheimer’s Disease,
a detail hauntingly reflective of the decline in his closing days.
The 2025 release of these documents characterised Hackman’s cardiovascular health struggles; the findings listed severe atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, prior coronary artery stents placement, a bypass graft, and an earlier aortic valve replacement. Intriguingly, Hackman’s diagnostics showed he was clear of the Hanta Pulmonary Syndrome, a respiratory illness contributing to his wife Betsy Arakawa’s passing.
Hackman and Arakawa’s bodies met discovery on February 26, 2025, within their Santa Fe residence, following an unnerving timeline where Arakawa had already passed away approximately two weeks earlier, on February 12. This revelation triggered inquiries addressed on March 7 by New Mexico Chief Medical Examiner Heather Jarrell. Her insights suggested that Hackman, amidst his Alzheimer’s progression, might have been oblivious to Arakawa’s demise.
On April 15, further details emerged when TMZ disseminated police body camera footage depicting the unsettling scene of Hackman and Arakawa’s lifeless forms. The footage portrayed law enforcement uncovering Arakawa first, accompanied by one of their dogs. Subsequently, Hackman’s body surfaced. Zinnia, their pet, was discovered dead within a crate, a casualty of starvation and dehydration, according to Santa Fe County animal control.
Disturbingly, Page Six reported Arakawa had searched COVID-19 symptoms online and procured oxygen canisters prior to her demise. An incident report, obtained by Page Six, documented a laptop found near where Arakawa’s body lay, revealing her Google inquiries focused on “breathing techniques.” In addition, she dispatched a chilling email on February 11, acknowledging Hackman’s flu-like symptoms, with a plan to postpone appointments amid these concerns. Notably, her digital trail fizzled after that date, coinciding with an Amazon purchase of several Boost Oxygen canisters.
The trajectory of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s final days weaves a poignant narrative underscored by layers of health complications and misfortune. Though the couple’s end was shrouded in solitude and deteriorating health, their saga resonates as a reflective recount of love, hardship, and, ultimately, the stark reminders of human fragility. As the autopsy closes this chapter of Hackman’s life, questions linger about the formidable interplay of fate and illness underpinning these heartrending events, leaving a legacy marked by its final solemn revelations.
