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

[Snoop Sister]

I wish one of the reporters at the presser would have an asked if Gene had a cell phone on his person when they found him. It was established that he had a cane, sunglasses beside his body and the door was partially opened in the mud room. Thus, I would think he was going outside or just coming in to the house.

 

[Ghostwheel]

IMO the two most likely scenarios based on what we know so far are:

1. Betsy had a medical emergency, maybe the dog discovers her and becomes agitated knocking over the space heater, Gene tries to get help but falls.

2. Betsy discovers Gene dead and takes her own life. This is less likely to me. I’m sure Betsy took great care of her husband, if something happened to him she would know immediately and try to get him help. I doubt that if he passed where he did, she wouldn’t have been aware, meaning that she would at least try to get him help and not have resorted to suicide immediately.

I’m truly baffled but these are the only scenarios I can really see happening.

How about 3) Gene has a medical emergency, Betsy runs for some pills for him, then she has a medical emergency and can't make it back. The dog swallows some pills, crawls into the closet to die?

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I think Betsy had a medical event which caused her death, Mr Hackman hears something, looks for her, finds her in bathroom with dog, put the dog in the closet/crate as it could have been trying to help wake her but was possibly in the way, he then went for help and either had a fall or he himself had a medical event due to the stress.

Moo

Ebm

I am leaning this way as well.
That she had the first medical event. First.

Did they have a land line, or only their cell phones??
If the latter, and IF he knew he had to try to get help...perhaps he was trying to get outside to get a signal.

 

[SortaSleuthy]

IMO, Gene died or was dying from a stroke or heart attack. Betsy ran to the bathroom to get some pills for him and she died from a stroke or heart attack. A horrible coincidence.

 

[whitelilac]

9 days and no one noticed? That is beyond heartbreaking.

I know
I wonder if the 2 dogs barked. German Shepherds are extremely loyal, intelligent and protective. Maybe this 12 acre compound was just not within earshot of neighbors.
And groceries, did they go out for groceries, had stuff delivered at the gate? Yes they were reclusive and private, but apparently well liked by the community. Just one individual could have alerted authorities....
So sad.

 

[NuttMegg]

IMO the two most likely scenarios based on what we know so far are:

1. Betsy had a medical emergency, maybe the dog discovers her and becomes agitated knocking over the space heater, Gene tries to get help but falls.

2. Betsy discovers Gene dead and takes her own life. This is less likely to me. I’m sure Betsy took great care of her husband, if something happened to him she would know immediately and try to get him help. I doubt that if he passed where he did, she wouldn’t have been aware, meaning that she would at least try to get him help and not have resorted to suicide immediately.

I’m truly baffled but these are the only scenarios I can really see happening.

Agreed #2 not likely. They probably firmly expected him to die first. And here he is discovering the opposite. To add more sudden heavy duty stress.

 

[pentimento]

Perhaps they just got back from a walk and were exposed to something while they were out. Maybe she thought the dog needed care and put it in the crate in the bathroom. The pills are only incidental, having been knocked over when she fell. What it could be, I have no idea. Honestly, this one is a real head-scratcher.

 

[Chimera]

IMO the two most likely scenarios based on what we know so far are:

1. Betsy had a medical emergency, maybe the dog discovers her and becomes agitated knocking over the space heater, Gene tries to get help but falls.

2. Betsy discovers Gene dead and takes her own life. This is less likely to me. I’m sure Betsy took great care of her husband, if something happened to him she would know immediately and try to get him help. I doubt that if he passed where he did, she wouldn’t have been aware, meaning that she would at least try to get him help and not have resorted to suicide immediately.

I’m truly baffled but these are the only scenarios I can really see happening.

My first guess would be number 1.
And if that is the case, it's very sad that they died so alone, and seemingly cut off from people ?
Imo.

 

[#JUSTICE4WILDER]

I believe something happened to her in the morning before she let the dog out of the kennel it slept in at night. I think she may have suffered a stroke or anyuersim (sp) and collapsed alone in the restroom where she was getting her morning meds. I think he may have been outside getting sunshine sitting with the dogs that morning. It's possible when he came in from being out there with his sunglasses and cane that his slippers cause him to fall on the mudroom tile floor. A broken bone kept Gene from getting back to his feet and he called for her help not knowing she was unconscious. Or he found her unconscious and was attempting to get a phone call out for help and in his haste he slipped breaking a hip.

 

[NuttMegg]

My first guess would be number 1.
It's so sad that they died so alone and seemingly cut off from people ?
Imo.

He wrote a handful of books. And described how he liked to steer the fate of the people in his books, in a way he couldn't always control his own acting because of having to please so many, or listen to so many opinions. This is broadly paraphrased, but I completely understand the push or urge to be a hermit like I too am. Being cut off from people was probably key to their sanity. I believe they hadn't been seen in public for many years until mar 2024. I completely understand. He gave so much to so many through his acting and had his last 10-15 to himself with his soulmate.

 

[Cedars]

So often it’s the caregiver whose health gets ignored because all their attention is 24/7 focused on the person they’re caring for. We don’t know what sort of supports BH had but it would appear virtually none. I’m also very surprised the couple didn’t have a housekeeper a few times each week for routine things such as cleaning, laundry and meal prep. Her 95 year old husband certainly wasn’t carrying part of the workload that large home would require. Her world must’ve been exhausting, especially at her age. May she RIP.

JMO

Very good point. She was so small - many people will have a care aid who'd help him bathe and dress, do some physio and exercise. A wealthy person will have someone to do the regular shopping, to deep clean (it would take a whole year to systematically dust and clean the whole house), and as you say a housekeeper to do laundry, mop the kitchen floor...did she try to do all that?

 

[Pseudonymph]

I think the scenario went like this:
Something poisoned them, whether a gas or a foodborne poison, or something they consumed accidentally. It’s probably not a gas or all the pets would have died. They are actively sick and dying (whether or not they realize this) and about ready to collapse.

Gene falls. His wife assumes it’s health-related and runs to get him baby aspirin or heart medicine or something. She succumbs in the bathroom. Unfortunately the dog is shut in her crate at that time and dies accidentally.

 

[al66pine]

I would love to watch it again, Mine cut off 1/2 way through.

Here it is:

Today's PRESSER. youtube showed it as 21:54 min. long.

The first 16:00 min: Mic Checks ---> 9 1/2 of 10 stars.
My rating, some of the best I've ever seen.

Seriously, for anyone interested personally watching:
Start at 16:00 min, Santa Fe Film Commissioner Jennifer kicks off presser
18:44 Santa Fe County Sheriff appears & speaks,
is followed by Santa Fe County Fire Chief.

There, just saved you seven min.

 

[IQuestion]

Pacemaker recorded "last event" on Feb. 17th for GH. (No evidence of CO found on deceased.) So sad.

 

[NuttMegg]

One of his books. This coauthor was a good friend. Just because he wasnt out and about glad handing doesnt mean he was always hidden away.

From Amazon.com "Wake of the Perdido Star"

Academy Award–winning actor Gene Hackman spins a cinematic tale of pirates, shipwrecks, and sea adventure. Co-written with Daniel Lenihan, one of America's leading authorities on shipwrecks and diving, Wake of the Perdido Star is a moving story of a young boy's coming of age on the high seas, full of authentic nautical and historical detail. A 19th-century sea adventure in the spirit of Patrick O'Brian, Wake of the Perdido Star is a captivating tale about friendship, justice, and survival.

 

[K9Enzo]

I wish someone had asked about the dog. Will the dog also be autopsied? If it did not of dehydration/malnourishment, it certainly might offer some clues. Poor thing. I’ve been wondering if it was the oldest of their dogs, and perhaps not in the best of health leading into this.

I’m sure a necropsy on the deceased dog will be done. imo

On a side note knowing the dog that was found deceased was a GSD breaks my heart. That dog would have been out of its mind with worry over whatever event he/she saw or heard but could not get to. Poor buddy. imo

 

[Cedars]

I’m sure a necropsy on the deceased dog will be done. imo

On a side note knowing the dog that was found deceased was a GSD breaks my heart. That dog would have been out of its mind with worry over whatever event he/she saw or heard but could not get to. Poor buddy. imo

Just an aside, but the two surviving dogs must have been well socialized, no comments about them being aggressive towards the strangers at the house.

 

[Ghostwheel]

I will reiterate that a dog found deceased in a closet/crate/kennel is not necessarily closed in (unless someone has something from the sheriff that says it was-if so, please send a link!). The dog could have just gone there and died if it felt poorly for a multitude of reasons. All of my sisters dogs still love their crates for a safe space and the doors are never closed. It's like their "room".

 

[armchairagatha]

Pacemaker recorded "last event" on Feb. 17th for GH. (No evidence of CO found on deceased.) So sad.

Occam’s razor - she died first due to a sudden medical emergency (heart attack is my guess since heart medication pills were found scattered in the bathroom where she was found). He went looking for her around the house when she didn’t come around to take care of him like she did everyday. Thought she might be in the garage or outside. He was probably too dependent on her to even move around the house so the strain was too much for him. So he falls, and either can’t get up or has a cardiac event and passes. RIP. MOO. A sad end to a screen legend and his wife.

 

[K9Enzo]

Just an aside, but the two surviving dogs must have been well socialized, no comments about them being aggressive towards the strangers at the house.

Yes, scanning pictures the couple seemed to really enjoy their dogs & took good care of them. imo