A new possible twist in the death of Gene Hackman is being considered by investigators. The body of the 95-year-old actor, along with that of his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their home in New Mexico under circumstances deemed suspicious.
The bodies of the couple were found in separate rooms. While Arakawa was lying on the bathroom floor next to a heater, a bottle of prescribed pills, and several scattered pills nearby, Hackman was found in another room, with his glasses and cane beside him.
What progress has been made in the investigation of the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife?
“There are no immediate signs of foul play, although the lack of carbon monoxide has been consistent with the initial theories on how they died. Now we are investigating whether it could have been a murder followed by suicide,” explained one of the investigators in a press conference, as reported by The Mirror.
“Did Mr. Hackman suddenly die of a heart attack and his wife was so distressed that she took an overdose?” pondered the investigator. “Or is it possible that his wife suffered an acute medical episode that caused her death and then Mr. Hackman was in such a state that he had a heart attack and died?” he also suggested, stating that they are “considering all possibilities.”
For the time being, the cause of the deaths has not been determined, but gas poisoning has been ruled out as the leak found was minimal and not dangerous.
On the other hand, Adan Mendoza, sheriff of Santa Fe County, stated that attention was being paid to the medications found in the residence, but we will still have to wait a few weeks for the toxicological results to be conclusive.
Mendoza had confirmed that the last event recorded in Hackman’s pacemaker was on February 17, so it is very likely that the actor passed away on that same day. Based on the condition of the bodies, the sheriff assessed that the couple could have died several days or even weeks before they were found.