Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy, 65, were found dead in their Santa Fe, N.M., home on Feb. 26. The causes of death are still unknown, but police are investigating the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
According to authorities, it appears both Gene and Betsy had been dead for several days before being discovered. Chief Medical Examiner James Gill suggests that both may have died from natural causes, possibly related to heart disease or stress.
Gill’s theory includes two possible scenarios: either Gene collapsed after finding Betsy dead, causing him to also die from a similar shock, or Betsy died first and Gene found her before collapsing himself due to stress. The investigation is ongoing and further testing, including toxicology workups and autopsy results, are needed to determine the cause of death.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office has ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning as a possible cause but did find a “minuscule” gas leak at one stove burner. A pest control worker first alerted authorities to the couple’s deceased bodies after not finding them on Feb. 26.
Source: https://people.com/gene-hackman-wife-betsy-broken-heart-type-thing-pathologist-says-exclusive-11691662