Hollywood icon Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy were found dead at their Santa Fe in February, but it is still not known when a funeral will be held

Hollywood star Gene Hackman and his pianist wife betsy were found dead at their home in February (Image: Getty Images)

The bodies of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, who is listed under her marital name, are still unclaimed a month after their tragic deaths. The couple were found dead at their Santa Fe home in New Mexico in February. It’s thought 65-year-old classical pianist Betsy died a week before Gene from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare respiratory illness that is carried by rats and mice.

Betsy was last seen alive running errands on February 11. But police found unopened emails from that day and onwards, suggesting she died around that time. Her husband of 34 years, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, passed away shortly afterwards aged 95. His pacemaker last recorded a reading on February 18.

Their deaths were not reported until February 26 when the grim discovery was made. Dr Heather Jarrell, Chief Medical Examiner at the Office of the Medical Investigator, said it was quite possible the Hollywood actor had been in such as an advanced state of Alzheimer’s that he wasn’t even aware that his wife had died. One of their pet dogs, who had been ill and to the vets recently, was also found dead at the property. Two other dogs were found alive and healthy at their home.

Betsy, married to Gene since 1991, is thought to have died a week before her ill husband(Image: Getty Images)

Both bodies were taken to the Office of the Medical Examiner in New Mexico. Documents obtained by the Mirror state that their bodies are still yet to be claimed, 30 days later. The office publishes a list of unclaimed decedents every Monday and two time Oscar winner Gene and Betsy’s names are still on it this week, as of March 24. This suggests they have yet to be claimed so funeral arrangements can be made. The Mirror has reached out to the Office of the Medical Examiner for comment.

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In a press conference in early March, Dr Jarrell gave more details about the circumstances surrounding the couple’s deaths and confirmed both died from natural causes. The medical expert revealed: “The cause of death for Miss Betsy Hackman, aged 65 years, is hantavirus, pulmonary syndrome.”

Explaining how Betsy could have contracted the illness, the doctor continued: “We did identify signs of rodent entry and other structures on the property and provided information and resources mission related to those areas. Hantavirus can be transmitted to people through rodent urine, droppings or saliva, so it is important to take special steps when cleaning up after vermin; avoiding contact with or breathing in aerosolised rodent urine or faeces, especially in a poorly ventilated area, is key.”

Turning to the death of Gene, Dr Jarrell said there were several causes of death. She explained: “The cause of death for Mr. Gene Hackman, 95 years, is hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor. Autopsy examination and a full body post mortem CT examination showed severe heart disease, including multiple surgical procedures involving the heart, evidence of prior heart attacks and severe changes of the kidneys due to chronic high blood pressure.”

Further tests showed Gene’s Alzheimer’s was severely advanced, but the doctor confirmed he hadn’t contracted the same deadly disease as his wife. Ultimately it was his pacemaker – that last recorded cardiac activity on February 18 – that was able to determine the day he died.

Asked if the actor could have survived without his wife, Dr Jarrell said: “The answer to that question is that Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer’s disease. I’m not aware of what his normal daily functioning capability was. He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that is what resulted in his in his death.” Tragically, she added: ” I can tell you that he was in an advanced state of Alzheimer’s, and it’s quite possible that he was not aware that she [his wife] was deceased.”