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

[CityKid]

Yes, my comment was only about what type of medications would be likely to be kept in a guest/entry bathroom.

My guess is that they'd moved from the upstairs primary bedroom to establish a primary bedroom downstairs as Gene's immobility advanced over the years. Nothing I've seen about their recent lives indicates that they were entertaining in the home. IMO

 

[ldlager]

I'm not the person you quoted, but considering their age differences, having spontaneous heart attacks at the same time (meaning, not caused by medication/toxic gas etc) is incredibly unlikely. Food poisoning (I don't have an opinion on this personally) would make more sense because if they ingested the same toxins, it would have killed them both in a similar time frame.

Editing to add: food poisoning could also be what killed the dog.

Or poisoning from the consumption of food that contained poison!

 

[Cherwell]

I don't see any great mystery here.

It looks to me like Betsy died suddenly. There are several things that can kill instantly. I don't think the full autopsy details have been released yet so I'm not ruling anything out.

Meanwhile Gene had perhaps been outside (he had his sunglasses) and let the dogs out. It may have been a while before he realised that Betsy wasn't about ..... or he might not have known at all. He had a fall. Perhaps he tripped over a dog, but we know he was very frail and frail old people easily lose their balance. He wasn't able to get up by himself, and there was nobody to help.

As for the dog, it really depends on whether it was shut in anywhere or not. This still isn't clear.

I can't give any credence to the suggestion of suicide on Betsy's part. You don't take a few pills and drop dead on the spot. If she had felt that she didn't want to go on without Gene, she would not have done anything right away. She would have wanted to take care of him to the end, and certainly not leave him lying on the floor to rot.

 

[IceIce9]

right, where was Betsy found again?

But was there vomit or evidence of diarrhea found?

 

[friendlysleuther]

I will also bite. Why food poisoning rather than, say, double heart attack?

@TristanP ‘s response is how I would have responded as well:

Additionally, since the autopsies have been done & are now just awaiting test results … If it were a heart attack, the pathologist would of been able to determine this fairly easily.

 

[ekc]

No chance whatsoever of an intruder being responsible for their deaths, nor food poisoning, if it was an intruder the other 2 dogs would have ripped the intruder apart, GSD’s are fiercely protective of their owners

As she died not in the main bathroom but another one where the dog was I am thinking the dog hadn’t been well and she was checking in on the dog, giving the dog medication, the heater fell off and killed her by hitting her on the head, Gene may have been in the garden as he had sunglasses, hears a crashing sound goes inside and in a rush to get to her/find her, moving quicker than normal he falls over in the room he died in

unless the dogs knew the intruder...both of their hands and feet were mummified...meaning his shoes were off? and from pictures showing him not to spry in his spring how fast could he move to the other side to her and besides could he hear the noise from outside if there was one?...just a thought

 

[friendlysleuther]

But was there vomit or evidence of diarrhea found?

Can’t say there was or wasn’t any.

 

[jojomo410]

It never said pest control anywhere

Yes, that information (pest control) was contained in information released by the Sheriff's Office. I can't remember which document though, but I'm having a "pest" problem and it made me wonder what their pest was.

 

[IceIce9]

If he was in bed then I'd at least be open to that. Both of them appeared to have been going about their business, when they collapsed.

I actually believe she died sometime before he did, and without her care he eventually died too.

I believe this scenario as well.

 

[Cherwell]

unless the dogs knew the intruder...both of their hands and feet were mummified...meaning his shoes were off? and from pictures showing him not to spry in his spring how fast could he move to the other side to her and besides could he hear the noise from outside if there was one?...just a thought

It was stated that he was wearing slippers.

 

[IceIce9]

Can’t say there was or wasn’t any.

I haven’t seen it reported, I would think it would have been mentioned along with the condition of the bodies. JMO

 

[friendlysleuther]

I haven’t seen it reported, I would think it would have been mentioned along with the condition of the bodies. JMO

I think since they were there for at least 9 days, animals were in the home, & we can’t really say how they were feeling beforehand…

 

[jojomo410]

I must say, I have never known or heard about a 63 year old woman killing herself because her 95 year old husband died. It seems very unlikely to me. Surely after a while she would pick herself up and get on with the rest of her life - do a bit of travelling, join a bridge club, whatever.

Definitely take a cruise! Betsy has basically been shut-in with Gene these last few years, the result of his declining health. My understanding is the couple was very close and Betsy was extremely devoted to Gene's well-being. However, I would expect her response to be more of a sense of relief.

 

[SortaSleuthy]

IMO it happened first thing in the morning. The dog was still sleeping in his crate.

 

[jojomo410]

This does sound plausible, but I would venture to guess, despite breed traits, there is a range of personality types among German Shepherds-particularly if a mix. We have three rescues, of which one would tear an intruder apart, and the other two (Pit mixes) would lick to death.

That said, this scenario seems plausible but damn, I could have definitely used a carbon monoxide explanation. That dog dying of dehydration is .

 

[ClearAhead]

@TristanP ‘s response is how I would have responded as well:

Additionally, since the autopsies have been done & are now just awaiting test results … If it were a heart attack, the pathologist would have been able to determine this fairly easily.

It’s true that officials are awaiting toxicology results but really no autopsy information other than initial findings has been released - no external trauma (ie foul play).

https://fox4kc.com/news/national/gene-hackman-wife-found-dead-santa-fe-sheriff-says-discovery-is-concerning/

After the news conference, the sheriff’s office sent a news release that stated, “An autopsy was performed. Initial findings noted no external trauma to either individual.”

The sheriff’s office also wrote that toxicology tests were requested for Hackman and Arakawa. Those results were pending, as was a full autopsy report. Mendoza didn’t give a precise timeline for when the full report would be released, but said it could take “months.”

 

[osu]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>

From the presser:

Sheriff Mendoza also revealed a few details surrounding the discovery of the bodies.

“From what I understand, there was a gentleman that was doing some pest control work that had gone to the Hackman residence, and he noticed that they weren’t home which was odd, I guess in as far he was concerned. He made contact with the security officer that was there, either patrolling or in the subdivision, and then it was the security officer that went to the house and had discovered the individuals in the home,” Mendoza said.

Gene Hackman, wife tested negative for carbon monoxide, sheriff says

 

[ClearAhead]

Yes, that information (pest control) was contained in information released by the Sheriff's Office. I can't remember which document though, but I'm having a "pest" problem and it made me wonder what their pest was.

Yes I recall that he had been there two weeks prior doing pest control work and upon going back discovered the bodies. That report appears to have been scrubbed online however iirc it was posted on these threads. It even stated mentioned the name of the pest control company he worked for. This is another possibility undoubtedly being investigated.

https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/search-warrant-reveals-details-surrounding-the-deaths-of-gene-hackman-his-wife-and-dog-in-santa-fe/

“From what I understand, there was a gentleman that was doing some pest control work that had gone to the Hackman residence, and he noticed that they weren’t home which was odd, I guess in as far he was concerned. He made contact with the security officer that was there, either patrolling or in the subdivision, and then it was the security officer that went to the house and had discovered the individuals in the home,” Mendoza said..’

 

[tomstrees]

A forensic expert commented on the investigation and based on his experience what may have happened:

As new details begin to unravel, Dr. Michael Baden, chief forensic pathologist for the New York State Police Department, delivered his new theory to DailyMail.com.

<modsnip - copyright>

Forensic expert: Gene Hackman may have suffered a heart malfunction

 

[ekc]

A forensic expert commented on the investigation and based on his experience what may have happened:

As new details begin to unravel, Dr. Michael Baden, chief forensic pathologist for the New York State Police Department, delivered his new theory to DailyMail.com.

<modsnip - copyright>


Forensic expert: Gene Hackman may have suffered a heart malfunction

isnt the pace maker there to help correct the arrhythmia....but the pace maker died on feb 17