A prominent pathologist has spoken out about Gene Hackman's tragic death after the star's body was found at his home last week.
In a statement, police revealed the much-loved actor had died, aged 95, along with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, in New Mexico. The couple's bodies were reportedly showing signs of decomposition and were partially mummified - with some speculating a 'companion suicide' as the cause of death.
Police have said that Gene was found dead in the house's mud room, with his cane and sunglasses near him on the ground, while his wife was discovered lying on the bathroom floor with prescription pills strewn across the nearby countertop.
However, a chief medical examiner has debunked the possibility of a suicide pact, saying that in "cases like that", the couple are usually found next to each other in bed.
Speaking to People, James Gill, Connecticut's Chief Medical Examiner, said it is "not likely" the pair took their own lives together, revealing: "I've seen cases like that, usually they're together in bed. The fact that they're in two separate locations tells me that I think that's less likely."
Suggesting Gene may have collapsed, he continued: "From the initial kind of circumstances, it seems like he may have collapsed - he's got a history of heart disease. He's got a pacemaker. So that would not be unusual."
Gill also dismissed the theory that Gene may have died from dehydration if Betsy died before him, as the star was not bedridden and could still move around on his own.
Police are still trying to piece together the couple's last movements and have drawn up a list of people they are talking to, including the actor's children Christopher, 65, Elizabeth Jean, 63, and Leslie, 58, who he had with his ex-wife Faye Maltese. The family are said to be eagerly awaiting the results of toxicology tests.
As the investigation enters its seventh day, Gill highlights one of the most important questions surrounding the tragic deaths, asking: "What's the time [of Gene's death] related to his wife? When did she die? That's a little bit more of a grey area, I think."
Gene and his wife are believed to have been dead for several days before they were found with their 12-year-old dog, Zinna. Police initially misidentified the dog, who was found dead at the scene, thinking that Bear, a German Shepherd, had died. However, Bear was alive with the couple's other dog Nikita, an Akita-shepherd mix.
Regarding Zinna's death, Gill surmised that there simply wasn't enough food or water available. The reason for the mix-up in the police report regarding the identity of the couple's pets remains unclear.
English (United States) ·