Actor Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa die of natural causes one week apart

Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman die of natural causes about one-week afta di death of im wife Betsy Arakawa.

One New Mexico medical investigation tok say she die afta she contract one rare virus.

Ninety-five-year-old Oga Hackman die for im Santa Fe home from coronary artery disease, wit advanced Alzheimer disease as contributing factor.

Ms Arakawa, 65, die for di same house from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), one respiratory illness wey exposure to infected rodents dey cause.

Investigators list di cause of her death as natural.

Authorities believe say she pass away about seven days bifor her husband, wey she marry for more dan 30 years.

During im career, Hackman win two Academy Awards for The French Connection and Unforgiven.

E dey likely say Ms Arakawa die first on 11 February, Dr Heather Jarrell of di New Mexico Medical Investigator Office tell one news conference on Friday, 7 March.

She say e dey "reasonable to conclude" say Oga Hackman die on 18 February.

Ms Arakawa last known movements and correspondence happun on 11 February, wen pipo see as she dey go grocery store, one CVS pharmacy and one pet store, bifor she later return home for di early evening.

On to say Oga Hackman dey for di advanced stages of Alzheimer disease, e dey "quite possible say e no even know say [im wife] don die", Dr Jarrell tok.

She tell tori pipo say she no "sabi im normal daily functioning capability".

Hackman bin get one "ogbonge heart disease, and ultimately dat na wetin cause im death", Dr Jarrell tok, she add say e get chronic high blood pressure.

E no chop anytin recently, but e no show any indications of dehydration, she add.

For di news conference, New Mexico Public Health Veterinarian Erin Phipps tok say di hantavirus infections dey extremely rare.

HPS dey transmitted through contact wit rodent droppings, urine or saliva, most often wen pesin inhale contaminated dust.

She note say 136 cases bin dey reported for di state ova di past 50 years, and 42% lead to fatalities.

Dr Phipps say dem discover evidence of rodent activity for some buildings wey dey di property, though dem consider di risk inside di main house "low".

Investigators dey try to determine how Ms Arakawa contract di illness. Hackman test negative for hantavirus.

Authorities see di couple for dia house afta neighbourhood security carry out one welfare check and see dia bodies for ground through di window.

Dia remains bin dey advanced stages of decomposition wen dem see dem.

Hackman body bin dey for one side room next to di kitchen, wit one walking cane and one pair of sunglasses nearby, according to one search warrant affidavit.

Ms Arakawa body dey for di bathroom, wit scattered pills close to her.

Sheriff deputies see medication for thyroid and blood pressure treatment, plus one pain reliever Tylenol, according to one court-filed inventory.

Citing privacy laws, authorities no disclose who get di drugs.

Authorities note say dem also see one of di couple dog die inside one crate near Ms Arakawa, while di oda two dogs dey alive.

Di cause of death for di dog neva dey determined, officials tok. Dr Phipps tell tori pipo say dogs no dey catch sickness from hantavirus.

Initial investigations no see any signs of forced entry or foul play for di couple $3.8m (£3m) home.

Tests for carbon monoxide poisoning dey negative, and dem no detect any significant gas leaks.

Hackman dey survived by three adult children from im previous marriage.

Oga Hackman meet Ms Arakawa wen she bin dey work part-time for one California gym for di mid-1980s, di New York Times previously report.

E win best actor Oscar for im role as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle for William Friedkin 1971 thriller The French Connection, and anoda for best supporting actor for playing Little Bill Daggett for Clint Eastwood Western film Unforgiven for 1992.

Hackman breakthrough bin happun wey im dey im thirties, wen e dey nominated for one Oscar for portraying Buck Barrow for 1967 Bonnie and Clyde - opposite Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway - and again for I Never Sang for My Father for 1970.

Dem recognise am for di two feems for di supporting actor category. Dem also nominate am for best leading actor for 1988 for di role of FBI agent e play for Mississippi Burning.

E don play more dan 100 roles during im career, wey include supervillain Lex Luthor for di Christopher Reeve-starring Superman movies for di 1970s and 1980s.

Hackman feature alongside many oda Hollywood heavyweights including Al Pacino for 1973 Scarecrow and Gene Wilder for 1974 Young Frankenstein.

Im last big-screen appearance come as Monroe Cole in Welcome to Mooseport for 2004, afta dat e step back from Hollywood for a quieter life for New Mexico.