Actor Gene Hackman lived with wife's corpse for a week, say officials

The late Gene Hackman reportedly lived with his wife Betsy's dead body for a week, before he succumbed to heart disease. The medical officials have now disclosed why that was.

In Short

• Gene Hackman lived with wife's body for a week before dying
• Wife Betsy died from hantavirus
• The couple was found dead at their New Mexico residence on February 26

There has been another development in the case of Hollywood icon Gene Hackman and his pianist wife Betsy's death. According to US media reports, the late actor lived with his wife's corpse for a week before he died. Medical officials told the reporters that Hackman continued to live with the body as he had no knowledge of his wife's passing. The Academy Award-winning actor was suffering from an advanced stage of Alzheimer's.

It was earlier revealed that while Betsy Hackman died due to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, Hackman died of a heart disease.

Hantavirus is a rare disease in the US, with most cases concentrated in the western states of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah. In northern New Mexico, the virus is spread by the droppings and urine of deer mice. The virus is often transmitted through the air when people sweep out sheds or clean closets where mice have been living.

Hackman's autopsy revealed that he had advanced Alzheimer’s disease. The report also claimed that he had no food in his stomach and was also suffering from intense dehydration at the time of his death.

Gene and Betsy Hackman were found dead at their New Mexico house on February 26. While Hackman presumably died around February 17, Betsy had presumably breathed her last around February 11.