The causes of death for Gene Hackman, who was 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, who was 65, were revealed at a press conference at Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday (8 March).
Dr Heather Jerrell, New Mexico’s Chief Medical Examiner, announced that Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe respiratory illness caused by viruses that are transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents.
Her exact time of death is not known, but she was last seen on 11 February.
Hackman died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. According to information gathered from his pacemaker, he likely died on 18 February.
Dr Jerrell explained: “He was in an advanced state of Alzheimer’s and it is quite possible he was not aware she was deceased.” Arakawa is believed to have been his sole caregiver.
The couple were found dead in their Santa Fe home on 26 February alongside one of their pet dogs, Zinna.
The cause of death for Zinna (short for Zinfandel), a kelpie mix, has not yet been determined.
Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Zinna has been been taken for necropsy at Veterinary Diagnostic Services, with results still awaited. He also revealed that Arakawa had collected Zinna from Gruda Veterinary Hospital on 9 February.
“There was a procedure that was done with the dog, which may explain why their dog was in a crate at the residence,” added Mendoza.
According to a police search warrant, the actor, his wife and their dog were found in separate rooms and appeared to have been “dead for some time”. The couple suffered “no external trauma”, the preliminary findings of a medical investigation found.
At a press conference last Friday, Sheriff Mendoza confirmed that both Hackman and Arakawa had tested negative for carbon monoxide.
Hackman was one of the best-loved stars in Hollywood, appearing in classic films such as The French Connection, The Conversation and Superman.
He won Oscars for The French Connection and Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven and stepped away from the spotlight a few years after 2001’s The Royal Tenenbaums.
Key Points
- Gene Hackman told friend that he would have died 'long ago' without his wife
- Gene Hackman had advanced Alzheimer’s and may not have known his wife was dead
- Betsy Arakawa was killed by hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. What is it?
- Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa found dead in their home in Santa Fe
- Gene Hackman death: Everything we know as actor’s body is found with wife and dog
Who are Gene Hackman's children?
19:00
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Annabel Nugent
Hackman shared three children with his ex-wife Faye Maltese, whom he was married to between 1956 and 1986.
The former couple welcomed three children: son Christopher and daughters Elizabeth and Leslie. It was in a joint statement from Elizabeth, Leslie and Hackman’s granddaughter Annie that the actor’s death was officially announced.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy,”they said. “He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”
Gene Hackman: brawling genius of film
18:00
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Annabel Nugent
One of the most esteemed actors of his generation, Gene Hackman enjoyed critical acclaim for several of his movies – but what was his highest rated film according to fans?
According to audiences, Hackman’s best movie is 1992’s Unforgiven, which has an impressive 93 per cent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes – his highest rated film. Second on the list is 1974’s Young Frankenstein with 92 per cent, and coming in third place is 1988’s Mississippi Burning with 90 percent.
Did Gene Hackman have a carer?
17:00
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Annabel Nugent
Given that Hackman was 95 years old and suffering from the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s, it would be expected that the Oscar-winner would have a live-in carer.
It seems, however, that Besty Arakawa was his sole caregiver as his wife looked after his health and organised meet-ups with friends.
A family friend of the couple, Aaron Lenihan told People magazine that “Betsy tried to keep him kind of active and engaged”. He said that Hackman did puzzles and yoga via Zoom daily.
“She was still trying to keep him as active and engaged and healthy as possible,” said Aaron.
Asked whether the couple had anyone taking care of Hackman, Sheriff Mendoza said: “At this point, there’s no indication that there was a caretaker at the home.”
When and where was Betsy Arakawa last steen?
16:00
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Annabel Nugent
Surveillance footage from 11 February showed Arawaka visiting a Sprouts Farmers Market, a CVS pharmacy and a pet food store in Santa Fe before driving back to their gated community in Santa Fe at approximately 5.15pm.
After that, she was never seen or heard from again. Her body was found alongside Hackman’s on 26 February during a welfare check conducted by neighbourhood security.
In his final years, Gene Hackman was 'slowing down and reclusive'
15:00
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Annabel Nugent
Friends and neighbours in Santa Fe told the New York Times that the couple had increasingly withdrawn from public life, especially after the pandemic. Towards the end, they said, the only sign of them was their bins left outside on the road for collection.
Two of the couple’s family friends, Daniel and Barbara Lenihan, also told People magazine that the actor had become “essentially home-bound” and had “stopped riding his bike through the neighborhood”.
14:00
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Louis Chilton
Filmmaking giant Francis Ford Coppola was among the many figures to pay tribute to Hackman following his death.
“The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity,” he wrote.
“I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.”
13:00
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Louis Chilton
A new feature in The New York Times features interviews with Hackman’s former friends, in an effort to paint a clearer picture of the actor’s final years.
Tom Allin, who shared over 20 years of friendship with Hackman, recalled the actor saying that he would have been dead “long ago” without his wife taking care of him.
“She just really looked after him,” said Allin, who said he once saw Arakawa mixing soda water into Hackman’s wine at a friend’s 90th birthday party in 2020 to aid his health.
According to the publication, she also policed his diet in light of the heart trouble that he had struggled with for decades, and also typed and edited the novels that he wrote by hand.
What is hantavirus?
12:00
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Annabel Nugent
How did Betsy Arakawa and Gene Hackman meet?
11:30
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Annabel Nugent
They couple met at a Los Angeles fitness centre where Arakawa – a classically trained pianist – had a part-time job.
Hackman had forgotten his entry card, and she refused to let him in, according to a friend Rodney Hatfield.
The couple married in 1991, and a friend told the publication that their relationship seemed natural despite the 30-year age gap.
Gene Hackman told his friend he would have died 'long ago' without his wife
11:11
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Annabel Nugent
Full timeline of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa’s deaths
11:00
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Annabel Nugent
What did Morgan Freeman say about Gene Hackman?
10:00
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Annabel Nugent
A week has passed since the Oscars, during which Morgan Freeman paid tribute to his late friend, the great Gene Hackman.
Read his full speech below:
“This week, our community lost a giant. And I lost a dear friend, Gene Hackman. I had the pleasure of working alongside Gene on two films, Unforgiven and Under Suspicion.
“Like everyone who ever shared a scene with him, I learned he was a generous performer and a man whose gifts elevated everyone’s work.
“Gene always said, ‘I don’t think about legacy. I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work,'” Freeman continued. “I think I speak for us all when I say, ‘Gene, you will be remembered for that, and so much more.’ Rest in peace, my friend.”
Gene Hackman went from being the 'least likely to succeed' to the brawling genius of film
09:30
,
Annabel Nugent
Gene Hackman would have died 'long ago' without his wife's care, claims actor's friend
09:00
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Annabel Nugent
In an interview with The New York Times, a longtime friend of Hackman’s said that Betsy Arakawa’s care was vital in Hackman living as long as he did.
“She was very protective of him,” Tom Allin told the publication, adding that the actor seemed happy to have his wife apparently acting as his sole caregiver during his Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Among her daily tasks, Arakawa – a classical pianist – set up golf games with his friends, ensured he ate healthily, and diluted his wine with soda water.
She also typed and edited the novels he wrote by hand.
Gene Hackman’s wife was killed by hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. What is it?
08:22
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Annabel Nugent
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a severe and potentially deadly disease that affects the lungs.
The rare virus initially causes flu-like symptoms that can progress to more acute illness where people have trouble breathing. It is fatal in nearly 4 out of 10 people who are infected.
Just under 730 cases were identified in the U.S. between 1993 and 2017. Nearly all cases were west of the Mississippi River.
Learn more about its symptoms and how it spreads here:
Alzheimer’s and a rare disease: Everything we know about Gene Hackman and wife’s deaths
07:00
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Kevin Perry
Following a press conference on Friday, much more is now understood about the deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa.
Here’s everything we know:
A timeline of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s deaths
06:02
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Kevin Perry
In the days that followed the news that Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa had died, mystery swirled as authorities ruled out foul play, and immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative.
Then authorities released the causes, proposing a simple but tragic theory: shortly after Arakawa’s death from a rare infection, Hackman died of heart disease, apparently unable to seek help after his wife died.
Here is a timeline of events as shared by police:
Hackman died ‘with no food in his stomach’
05:00
,
Kevin Perry
“He was in a very poor state of health,” New Mexico’s Chief Medical Examiner Dr Heather Jerrell said when asked about Hackman’s ability to keep himself alive after his wife’s death.
“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 death.
Dr Jerrell added: “I was able to look at fluid to determine if he was dehydrated, and I did not see evidence of dehydration. I did see evidence of very poor kidney function, and I think he died as a result of his heart disease, with Alzheimer’s being a contributing factor.”
Asked whether starvation was a factor in his death, Dr Jerrell said: “There was no food in his stomach, which means he had not eaten recently, but he had also no evidence of dehydration.”
Unclear whether Hackman was going to seek help
04:00
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Kevin Perry
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said it was hard to tell, judging by where and how Hackman was found, if he had been going to seek help for his wife. “That's hard to answer,” Mendoza said.
“Again, it's hard to get into the frame of mind of what was happening at the time. And I don't know if we'll ever have the answer to that question, whether he was going to go for help.”
Read more here:
Pills found on scene unrelated to deaths, says medical examiner
03:02
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Kevin Perry
There had previously been speculation about the scattered pills found near Betsy Arakawa’s body, but speaking today New Mexico’s Chief Medical Examiner Dr Heather Jerrell said they were unrelated to her death.
“Pills present on scene were thyroid medication which were being taken as prescribed and are not currently a concern for a contributory cause of death,” said Dr Jerrell.
Hackman had advanced Alzheimer's and possibly didn't know his wife died a week earlier, medical examiner says
02:00
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Kevin Perry
Hackman and Arakawa’s marriage
01:00
,
Kevin Perry
The couple married in 1991 and moved to New Mexico 12 months later. They began dating in the 1980s after meeting each other in California. Arakawa was a classically trained pianist but the two met at a gym where Arakawa was working.
The couple’s home is in a gated community just outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico’s capital city. Hackman moved in the 1980s to the area, where he was often seen around town and served as a board member of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in the 1990s, according to the local paper, The New Mexican.
Arakawa was Hackman’s second wife following his divorce from Faye Maltese, who he was married to from 1956 to 1986.
Hackman and his wife died one week apart, medical examiner says
00:00
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Kevin Perry
Update on the Hackmans' deceased dog
Saturday 8 March 2025 23:00
,
Kevin Perry
Zinna (short for Zinfandel), the kelpie mix who was found dead in a crate not far from Betsy Arakawa, has been taken for necropsy at the Veterinary Diagnostic Services.
Sheriff Adan Mendoza said: “We'll be awaiting those results.”
He also revealed that Arakawa had collected Zinna from Gruda Veterinary Hospital on February 9.
“There was a procedure that was done with the with the dog, which may explain why their dog was in a crate at the residence,” said Mendoza.
Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa died of unconnected natural causes, medical examiner reveals
Saturday 8 March 2025 22:00
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Kevin Perry
Alzheimer’s and a rare disease: Everything we know about Gene Hackman and wife’s deaths
Saturday 8 March 2025 21:00
,
Kevin Perry
Following a press conference on Friday, much more is now understood about the deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa.
Here’s everything we know:
Joe Walsh recalls friendship with Hackman
Saturday 8 March 2025 20:00
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Kevin Perry
Eagles star Joe Walsh has recalled his friendship with Hackman, writing on Instagram: “Summer of 1976 or so in Santa Barbara. I had joined a new band and we were working on what would become Hotel California. My buddy Gene had just finished what would become The Domino Principle. We drank hard. We laughed hard. We fought over who had the bigger nose (he did). And oh man… We played poker for days. Whenever I hear the term “Poker Face,” I will always see this face… and giggle. Godspeed, my friend. RIP Gene Hackman.”
Jennifer Tilly says she's 'haunted' by Hackman's death
Saturday 8 March 2025 19:00
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Kevin Perry
Chucky star Jennifer Tilly wrote on social media: “Haunted by the tragic story of Gene Hackman and his wife. I met him once in the early 90s. He had such a strong vibrant larger than life presence. Such a sad lonely end to a brilliant life and career. I hope they have both found peace.”
'We need to do a better job': Screenwriter reflects on Gene Hackman's tragic death
Saturday 8 March 2025 18:30
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Josh Marcus
Gene Hackman’s death has shocked members of the film community.
One screenwriter says it highlights the need for more discussion around caring for the aging.
“The thought of an Alzheimers-stricken Gene Hackman wandering around his giant house alone for nearly a week while his beloved wife was lying dead on the floor is almost unbearably sad,” Zack Stentz wrote on X on Saturday. “We collectively need to do a better job preparing for the realities of aging and mortality.”
What to know about hantavirus
Saturday 8 March 2025 18:01
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Josh Marcus
Gene Hackman’s wife Betsy Arakawa likely died of hantavirus, according to New Mexico officials.
"Hantaviruses typically spread when humans breathe in virus particles from disturbed rodent urine, droppings or nesting materials," Dr. Rhys Parry, a molecular virologist at the University of Queensland in Australia, told Fox News.
The disease is found throughout the U.S. and is not known to spread person-to-person, but it has a nearly 40 percent fatality rate, according to the CDC.
'They were so delightful': Friends remember Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa
Saturday 8 March 2025 17:15
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Josh Marcus
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa met a tragic end, dying days apart from each other in February under circumstances that are still being investigated, but friends remembered the pair as a tight-knit and doting couple in life.
“Last time we saw them, they were alive and well,” Daniel Lenihan told CNN of his last encounter with the two, a few weeks ago at a Santa Fe home decor shop.
“They were so delightful to be around,” Barbara, Lenihan’s wife, added. “Probably never seen a couple that got along and enjoyed each other so much.”
ICYMI: Full timeline of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa’s deaths
Saturday 8 March 2025 16:47
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Josh Marcus
Authorities have revealed actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico home.
Hackman, 95, Betsy Arakawa, 65, and their kelpie mix named Zinna were found dead by a maintenance worker on February 26.
In the days that followed, mystery swirled around the deaths as authorities ruled out foul play, and immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative.
Then authorities released the causes, proposing a simple but tragic theory: Shortly after Arakawa's death from a rare infection, Hackman died of the nation’s leading killer – heart disease – apparently unable to seek help after his wife died.
More details in the story below.
Gene Hackman spent days without wife as caregiver before his death
Saturday 8 March 2025 16:39
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Josh Marcus
Prior to the death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, the latter spent years caring for the former as he battled health conditions.
As Hackman faced persistent heart troubles, Arakawa looked after his diet, made sure he didn’t drink too much alcohol, and overall served as the aging actor’s caregiver in addition to his wife.
That makes the circumstances of both of their deaths all the more tragic.
Arakawa appears to have died, of a viral infection, days before Hackman, leaving the 95-year-old with Alzheimer’s alone without his accustomed support system.
Saturday 8 March 2025 16:30
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Jacob Stolworthy
Gene Hackman was one of Hollywood’s greatest actors – and one of its least conventional leading men.
It’s hard to imagine anyone like him reaching these levels of success now, writes Louis Chilton.
Gene Hackman reflected on fear of dying in 2004
Saturday 8 March 2025 15:50
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Jacob Stolworthy
Gene Hackman spoke of his fear of dying in an interview with CNN’s Larry King back in 2004.
The interview has today (27 February) resurfaced following the death of the 95-year-old actor, alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa, 63, and their pet dog.
No foul play is suspected, according to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza.
Mendoza told The Santa Fe New Mexican that the couple died around midnight on Thursday. The sheriff did not speculate on their cause of death, which has not been determined.
In the 2004 CNN interview, Hackman said: “I have the normal fear of passing away.”
He added: “I want to make sure that my wife and my family are taken care of.”
Police say we’ll never know about Hackman’s final days
Saturday 8 March 2025 15:20
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Jacob Stolworthy
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said it was hard to tell, judging by where and how Hackman was found, if he had been going to seek help for his wife, who died a week before him.
“That’s hard to answer,” Mendoza said. “Again, it’s hard to get into the frame of mind of what was happening at the time. And I don’t know if we’ll ever have the answer to that question, whether he was going to go for help.”
Read more here:
Gene Hackman and wife’s bodies showed signs of ‘mummification’
Saturday 8 March 2025 14:43
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Jacob Stolworthy
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were dead for at least several days before their bodies were discovered, authorities have said.
The bodies of the couple were found in their Santa Fe home Wednesday night. Arakawa’s body “showed obvious signs of death, body decomposition” and “mummifications in both hands and feet,” according to a search warrant.
Hackman’s body was found in “similar and consistent” condition.
Natural mummification occurs when the body dries out, turning tissue into a shrunken, hard mass. This typically happens in either dry and hot or very cold environments.
Read more:
Gene Hackman’s date of death determined
Saturday 8 March 2025 13:54
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Jacob Stolworthy
Gene Hackman’s initial pacemaker data revealed cardiac activity on 17 February. Subsequent pacemaker investigation showed an abnormal rhythm of atrial fibrillation on 18 February, which was the last record of heart activity.
Based on this information, chief medical examiner Dr Heather Jarrell said it is reasonable to conclude that Hackman probably died on this date.
Hackman was in an ‘advanced state of Alzheimer’s’ when he died
Saturday 8 March 2025 12:54
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Jacob Stolworthy
In reference to the length of time between the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, New Mexico’s Chief Medical Examiner Dr Heather Jerrell explained that: “He was in an advanced state of Alzheimer’s and it is quite possible he was not aware she was deceased.”
Hackman and Arakawa’s marriage
Saturday 8 March 2025 12:16
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Jacob Stolworthy
The couple married in 1991 and moved to New Mexico 12 months later. They began dating in the 1980s after meeting each other in California. Arakawa was a classically trained pianist but the two met at a gym where Arakawa was working.
The couple’s home is in a gated community just outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico’s capital city. Hackman moved in the 1980s to the area, where he was often seen around town and served as a board member of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in the 1990s, according to the local paper, The New Mexican.
Arakawa was Hackman’s second wife following his divorce from Faye Maltese, who he was married to from 1956 to 1986.
More here:
Gene Hackman refused to re-watch one of his most famous films
Saturday 8 March 2025 11:21
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Jacob Stolworthy
Gene Hackman starred in multiple classic films – but there was one the actor refused to watch back.
Perhaps Hackman’s most memorable role was his performance as grizzled detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in William Friedkin’s 1971 crime drama The French Connection – and despite it being one of his most famous roles, it was one the actor never cared to revisit.
The actor watched the film just once, shortly after it was completed – but that was enough for the actor, who won an Oscar for the role.
Gene Hackman became a reclusive figure in later life
Saturday 8 March 2025 10:48
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Jacob Stolworthy
Gene Hackman announced that he had retired from acting in 2008 while promoting his third novel Escape from Andersonville. His final film was the 2004 comedy Welcome to Mooseport where he starred alongside Ray Romano.
In 2022, he made a rare public appearance to attend a show in Santa Fe’s Lensic Center for Performing Arts titled Broadway Confidential which delighted fans in the process.
Read The Independent’s report on Hackman’s rare outing below.
Gene Hackman: The brawling genius of film
Saturday 8 March 2025 10:17
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Jacob Stolworthy
Despite being voted ‘Least Likely to Succeed’ by his acting school classmates, Hackman became one of the greatest actors of our age.
Martin Chilton remembers a screen icon:
Hackman died ‘with no food in his stomach’
Saturday 8 March 2025 09:41
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Jacob Stolworthy
“He was in a very poor state of health,” New Mexico’s Chief Medical Examiner Dr Heather Jerrell said when asked about Hackman’s ability to keep himself alive after his wife’s death.
“I’m not aware of what his normal
