Actor Gene Hackman arrives with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, for the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, Jan 19, 2003. Photo: AP
Gene Hackman had not eaten for several days before his death.
The disturbing detail emerges from the definitive results of the autopsy of the actor and his wife, whose bodies were found partially mummified on Feb 26.
The level of acetone in the Hollywood star's blood was in fact equal to 5.3mg/dl, a value compatible with a prolonged fast (the normal level does not exceed 0.3mg/dl).
This data may indicate fasting-induced ketoacidosis or diabetes, or the metabolism of isopropyl alcohol.
More than two months after the tragic discovery, forensic examinations have clarified the circumstances of the death of the 95-year-old actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65.
The two had been found lifeless in their home, along with the body of one of their dogs, in circumstances that had aroused mystery.
Initially, a carbon monoxide leak was hypothesized, but this theory was later ruled out.
The first autopsy results, released in early March, indicated that Hackman had died from cardiovascular disease, aggravated by Alzheimer's, about a week after his wife's death.
The latter had died following an infection with hantavirus, a rare disease transmitted by rodents.
The final results, released by authorities in Santa Fe, New Mexico, confirm these initial findings.
According to Fox News, the actor died of "severe atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease," with a history of congestive heart failure and "significant chronic hypertensive changes in the kidneys."
Analysis of pacemaker data also revealed the presence of previous myocardial infarctions.
The brain examination showed microscopic signs compatible with an advanced stage of Alzheimer's disease, a neurodegenerative disease that was a significant contributing factor to his death.
The actor tested negative for hantavirus, the disease that affected his wife.
The hypothesis of carbon monoxide poisoning was definitively ruled out: "the tests detected a saturation of less than 5%, within the norm," concluded the coroner.
Wife Arakawa died from a hantavirus infection, transmitted by rodents that had infested the house.
Police authorities, during the investigation, analysed her computer, discovering that between Fe 8 and 11 she had carried out numerous searches on Covid-19 and flu-like symptoms, before consulting a doctor at the Cloudberry centre in Santa Fe.
According to the police report, "this data suggests that Betsy was actively seeking information on medical conditions related to Covid-19 in the days leading up to her death."
In an email sent to her masseuse on Feb 11, Arakawa wrote that Hackman had undergone a Covid test after showing "flu symptoms."
She died the same day, while her husband died a week later, on Feb 18, without raising the alarm probably due to the worsening of his Alzheimer's. – Adnkronos International/Tribune News Service
