Gene Hackman’s final autopsy report reveals disturbing detail of actor's last days
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO: Gene Hackman’s final autopsy report revealed a horrifying detail of the actor's last days, as it showed that he had not eaten for a long time before his tragic death in February.
Hackman, along with his wife Betsy Arakawa and one of their dogs, were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on February 26 after neighborhood security conducted a welfare check and saw their bodies through a window.
Gene Hackman’s final autopsy report reveals horrifying details
Gene Hackman's toxicology test showed acetone levels at 5.3 mg/dl, which is consistent with prolonged fasting, according to Fox News.
As per the report, the solvent can be a "product of diabetic- and fasting-induced ketoacidosis as well as a metabolite following isopropanol ingestion."
The autopsy report also confirmed that Hackman had a "history of congestive heart failure" and "severe chronic hypertensive changes" to his kidneys. Furthermore, it noted "neurodegenerative features consistent with Alzheimer’s disease."
New Mexico officials previously revealed Hackman and Arakawa’s causes of death during a press conference in March.
Hackman reportedly died due to hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, as "advanced Alzheimer’s disease" was a contributing factor.
Hackman's stomach was empty, as per the autopsy performed on February 27, indicating he had not recently eaten.
Meanwhile, Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a rare rodent-transmitted virus.
Officials determined that Arakawa likely died on February 12, and Hackman died one week later.
Expert believes Gene Hackman may have repeatedly relived wife's death in his final days due to Alzheimer's
An expert revealed to the BBC that Gene Hackman may have relived the loss of his wife, Betsy Arakawa, repeatedly in his final days due to advanced Alzheimer's disease.
Arakawa was found in a bathroom with scattered pills nearby, while the 95-year-old actor was found dead near the kitchen with a cane and sunglasses
Dr Catherine Piersol, an occupational therapist specializing in dementia care, told the outlet, "I imagine he would be trying to wake her up and not being successful. But then could have been distracted in another room because of one of the dogs or something."
She added that Hackman would later notice Arakawa on the bathroom floor again and have to "live through it again."
Dead rodents, nests, and feces were found on Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's Santa Fe property
According to a report by the New Mexico Department of Public Health, dead rodents, their nests, and feces were found on Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s Santa Fe property.
The department conducted a health assessment on the property in March, a week after Hackman and Arakawa were found dead along with a deceased dog and two surviving dogs, according to TMZ.
According to the health department report, the couple's three garages, two casitas, and three sheds were infested with rodents.
Moreover, their three detached garages had a live rodent, a dead rodent, and a rodent nest.
Investigators also found signs of rodent nests, droppings, and sightings of the pests on Hackman and Arakawa's two vehicles, with live traps found in the outbuildings, suggesting the infestation had been growing.
However, the house where the couple used to live had no signs of infestation, suggesting that they might have been unaware of the risk.
