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Gene Hackman cause of death revealed as sheriff says his wife died from rare virus linked to rodents a week before he did
succumbing to complications from heart problems and Alzheimer’s disease, officials revealed Friday.Betsy Arakawa died of Hantavirus, a rare flu-like disease linked to rodents, the Santa Fe officials said.Arakawa’s last left her and Hackman’s home on Feb. 11 which was also the last time she sent out any communications, according to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza.She died of the virus likely that day, New Mexico Chief Medical Examiner Heather Jarrell said at a highly anticipated press conference Friday afternoon.Hackman, who had late stage Alzheimer’s likely died roughly a week after his wife from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and from Alzheimer’s, Jarrell said.The bodies of Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, were discovered by maintenance and security workers at their Santa Fe, New Mexico, mansion on Feb.