The recent investigation into Gene Hackman’s death has revealed new information about his health. It helps explain his living conditions as he died over the summer. Though Hackman came upon plenty of difficulties that helped lead to his downfall. He died on February 18, 2024, of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. His family provided the most critical information on his rapidly worsening health. His adult daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie Hackman, recalled his challenges with new technology.
In an incident report, Hackman noted that he “woke up today with flu/cold-like symptoms” but tested negative for COVID-19. His daughters told detectives that their father had been on a well-documented downward spiral in health. On January 30th, 2024, they had to tell him three times that it was his birthday. This was a time when his cognitive impairments were on full display.
On the day of his death, Hackman’s corpse was found by a security guard close to the ranch’s headquarters. Deputy J.L. Thomas reported the scene, stating, “I observed a large, brown in color German Shepherd dog sitting approximately five feet away from the deceased.” This specific detail serves to illustrate the devoted and watchful companionship of Hackman’s dog in his final moments on earth.
When Tap Hackman passed away, his family were faced with a difficult decision. They permitted an acquaintance to adopt the two remaining canines he had earlier surrendered. The actor’s loss hit his family particularly hard. It raised alarm bells about the conditions in which he was residing at home.
A state Health Department report from an inspection made on March 5, 2024, described the unsanitary conditions at Hackman’s house. To make matters worse, inspectors found evidence of rodent infestation throughout the property. They noticed rodent feces in both main guest houses and in separate storage buildings. The report found numerous live and dead rodents in a separate garage. It further observed that rodent traps had been placed throughout the facility.
Despite these troubling findings, Elizabeth VinHatton from the state Health Department reported that the “main dwelling [was] clean with no signs of rodent activity.” This one phrase paints the picture that although some of the property received good care, much of it was allowed to fall into disrepair.
Hackman’s refusal to adapt to new technology was a focus of the hearing that was padded with sad stories. According to interviewees, he cut himself off reportedly relying only on landlines and avoiding cellphones altogether. This decision likely helped propel him into an isolation, where during his greatest time of need, support from family and friends wasn’t available.