Gene Hackman dead at 95: Iconic actor and wife, 63, are found dead with their dog at Santa Fe home. #3

[NuttMegg]

It seems to be set in stone per the media that Betsy died on the 11th leaving Gene alone for a week. Of course the media have run with this to be sensational.

It makes no sense to me. It was made clear in the press conference that they did not have a definite date of death for her. She was out and about and apparently well on the 11th.

We were told that typically people are ill with flu-like symptoms for three to six days before hantovirus turns fatal. The medical examiner said that there was no way of knowing when she first started to feel ill, but if she was about to die there's no way she would have been able to go out shopping.

It seems to me that Betsy could have survived for up to a week after 11 Feb. Just because she didn't send any texts or emails doesn't mean she was dead! She just wasn't well. She probably thought she had flu which is why she didn't seek medical help.

I do not believe that she was dead a week before Gene died.

The ME really didn't stick firmly to that, did she.

 

[Cherwell]

The ME really didn't stick firmly to that, did she.

Stick to what?

 

[LittleSeaTree]

It seems to be set in stone per the media that Betsy died on the 11th leaving Gene alone for a week. Of course the media have run with this to be sensational.

It makes no sense to me. It was made clear in the press conference that they did not have a definite date of death for her. She was out and about and apparently well on the 11th.

We were told that typically people are ill with flu-like symptoms for three to six days before hantovirus turns fatal. The medical examiner said that there was no way of knowing when she first started to feel ill, but if she was about to die there's no way she would have been able to go out shopping.

It seems to me that Betsy could have survived for up to a week after 11 Feb. Just because she didn't send any texts or emails doesn't mean she was dead! She just wasn't well. She probably thought she had flu which is why she didn't seek medical help.

I do not believe that she was dead a week before Gene died.

I keep thinking about that as well-if you’re that sick, forget communicating with the outside world…especially if it is as it seems that she may not have been close to anyone else….we might not know that to definitely be the case, though, of course.

 

[NuttMegg]

Stick to what?

Stick to firm decision she died on the 11th, under questioning. It's more like saying she died on the 11th because that's the last time we heard from her.....except we still haven't examined her 2 phones yet. That's the gist.

 

[LittleSeaTree]

It seems to be set in stone per the media that Betsy died on the 11th leaving Gene alone for a week. Of course the media have run with this to be sensational.

It makes no sense to me. It was made clear in the press conference that they did not have a definite date of death for her. She was out and about and apparently well on the 11th.

We were told that typically people are ill with flu-like symptoms for three to six days before hantovirus turns fatal. The medical examiner said that there was no way of knowing when she first started to feel ill, but if she was about to die there's no way she would have been able to go out shopping.

It seems to me that Betsy could have survived for up to a week after 11 Feb. Just because she didn't send any texts or emails doesn't mean she was dead! She just wasn't well. She probably thought she had flu which is why she didn't seek medical help.

I do not believe that she was dead a week before Gene died.

But then again, she may have had the wherewithal to at least call 911, or someone to care for Gene

 

[Izzylizzy]

Rodent problems are extremely common and they had a ginormous house. This means that there are probably at least one hundred potential entrance points. Routine maintenance of all homes should inspect potential entrance points even if you have rodents or not. The average ranch house has probably a dozen. Entrance points occur wherever two roofs meet. Gutters. Chimneys. Any rotten wood. Shingle issues, water damage etc etc etc.

It's a constant battle for us. Hubby spends lots of time on the roof. I'm sure that particular home had numerous vulnerabilities. Generally custom built homes have numerous roof levels. A major problem for us is an addition to the home. There is a gable of one roof that meets with a flatter roof and it sits back about a foot from the edge of the roof. This area is a huge sore spot for us.

I really can't imagine them not having a critter problem. That was the first thing I thought when I heard that a pest control person was at their place. Rodents tend to be more of an indoor issue in the winter.

You can see here all the possible vulnerable spots on a typical roof.


The dormer area looks particularly vulnerable, although anywhere could be.

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Additionally almost every large residence around here has outdoor bait boxes. These require routine inspection by pest control. I can imagine their house required frequent inspection of potential entrance points.

Yikes!
You're in constant battle mode.
Thanks for passing on your education with critters and structures.

 

[Fabled Automatic]

If only, if only....she had sought med attention. She was only 63.

There's a possibility she may have preferred things went this way rather than life without Gene.

We'll never know.

 

[Cherwell]

Stick to firm decision she died on the 11th, under questioning. It's more like saying she died on the 11th because that's the last time we heard from her.....except we still haven't examined her 2 phones yet. That's the gist.

I don't think they ever said that she died on the 11th, did they? They just said that was the last day that she was confirmed to be alive. With Gene there was the pacemaker evidence.

Now we have the BBC et al headlining that they died "a week apart". It's so irresponsible. Most people won't have listened to what was actually said at the press conference.

Good point about the phones, something still may emerge, but I'm afraid it will be too late to change public perception.

 

[DS2021]

He was driving just 2 years ago, in that pic posted earlier today

People who are that up there in age can go downhill quickly. My grandfather was still driving until he was 90.

He passed at 92, at that point he had been in a nursing home for roughly a year or so, and didnt know who most of his family was.

 

[Cherwell]

But then again, she may have had the wherewithal to at least call 911, or someone to care for Gene

I suspect she might have soldiered on, thinking she had a flu-like cold and would soon recover. She wouldn't have realised she had a fatal virus.

 

[NuttMegg]

I don't think they ever said that she died on the 11th, did they? They just said that was the last day that she was confirmed to be alive. With Gene there was the pacemaker evidence.

Now we have the BBC et al headlining that they died "a week apart". It's so irresponsible. Most people won't have listened to what was actually said at the press conference.

Good point about the phones, something still may emerge, but I'm afraid it will be too late to change public perception.

I thought she said at first that BA died on the 11th, then added a bunch of qualifications. I do believe he died on the 18th, if afib is the
last thing registered. That would be brutal for a guy on his condition.

 

[priyaya]

It seems to be set in stone per the media that Betsy died on the 11th leaving Gene alone for a week. Of course the media have run with this to be sensational.

It makes no sense to me. It was made clear in the press conference that they did not have a definite date of death for her. She was out and about and apparently well on the 11th.

We were told that typically people are ill with flu-like symptoms for three to six days before hantovirus turns fatal. The medical examiner said that there was no way of knowing when she first started to feel ill, but if she was about to die there's no way she would have been able to go out shopping.

It seems to me that Betsy could have survived for up to a week after 11 Feb. Just because she didn't send any texts or emails doesn't mean she was dead! She just wasn't well. She probably thought she had flu which is why she didn't seek medical help.

I do not believe that she was dead a week before Gene died.

The medical examiner seemed pretty sure, but I think k again the dog stuck.in the crate and lack of any cell phone show she was totally incapacitated. Plus the initial reports were that the reported mummification would be about 2 weeks in those cool dry conditions

It's absolutely horrible to think of but the medical examinor even said his.disease was so bad he very likely wouldn't have known.

Yet 2 dogs managed to be fed for 2 weeks. And 1 died presumably a week from dehydration. Maybe they opened a new bag of food but part of me has to believe they were interacting with gene for that week.

 

[Cherwell]

People who are that up there in age can go downhill quickly. My grandfather was still driving until he was 90.

I know someone in their 60s with Alzheimers who has gone from being a bright vivacious person to a zombie in less than a year. It can be frighteningly rapid.

 

[Izzylizzy]

But then again, she may have had the wherewithal to at least call 911, or someone to care for Gene

Exactly, due to her years of concern and the isolated lifestyle so Gene wouldn't catch Covid or anything contagious, eh?
The facts of this tragedy are worse than the speculations I've read.
imo:

 

[Fabled Automatic]

I suspect she might have soldiered on, thinking she had a flu-like cold and would soon recover. She wouldn't have realised she had a fatal virus.

Must have been a tough decision, if the case. Knowing you have to care for your partner, while potentially fatally introducing them to illness.

 

[DS2021]

Must have been a tough decision, if the case. Knowing you have to care your your partner, while potentially fatally introducing them to illness.

If she was still scared about covid, she may have been afraid to introduce someone else. He may also have not done well with outside caretakers in the past.

 

[Really?]

Anyone here living in the Southwest…..please please please……if you think you might have the flu…..go see a doctor or Urgent Care or something similar. Please.

 

[Quill]

Really, try field mint. I live in a place with many adobe houses and enclosures. I never could get rid of them til I started the mint placed in all the doors and gates. Speaking of common house mouse. Field mouse.

We live near a wooded area and realized they were coming up on our back porch area at night. We bought a non-toxic mint spray that comes in a container with a spray nozzle that looks like a pesticide container. We spray that along our perimeter and around all our door etc. It works very well. We have to reapply because our climate is humid and we get lots of rain, but it is effective.

 

[Diddian]

Ah man. A sad ending. I am going to watch The Royal Tannenbaums tonight and try to forget his ending and just remember his great acting.

If you haven't already seen it, GH was great in "The Conversation" as well.

 

[Cherwell]

I thought she said at first that BA died on the 11th, then added a bunch of qualifications. I do believe he died on the 18th, if afib is the
last thing registered. That would be brutal for a guy on his condition.

She said that it was reasonable to assume that Betsy "passed away first, with Feb 11 being the last day she was known to be alive."
That's at about 15 mins in to the video. I'll have to listen to the rest later.