A 95-year-old man and his 65-year-old wife were discovered deceased in their Santa Fe, N.M., home on February 26. Gene Hackman was found dressed in casual attire with a cane nearby, while Betsy Arakawa was discovered dead in the bathroom with prescription pills scattered around her.
Authorities believe both individuals had been deceased for several days before being found. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of death. Chief Medical Examiner James Gill suggested that the couple may have died from separate events rather than a “companion suicide.” He noted that Gene’s pacemaker was last functioning on February 17, nine days prior to their discovery.
Gill theorized that Gene’s death might be related to his history of heart disease and the fact that he was ambulatory. The medical examiner also pointed out that newer pacemakers often have monitoring features that could help determine the time of death.
Additionally, a German shepherd dog found in a kennel crate near Betsy’s body is believed to have died from lack of food and water, with a possible timeframe of one week. Two other dogs were discovered alive and are currently being cared for by a family friend. The couple was initially discovered by a pest-control worker who failed to find them upon visiting the home.
Source: https://people.com/gene-hackman-wife-betsy-suicide-less-likely-says-expert-exclusive-11690593