Gene Hackman & Wife Betsy's Unexplained Deaths: Why Suicide Is Unlikely...

[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]

Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa’s deaths are still a total mystery… Shockingly, we have no clue what happened to them yet.

One of the earliest theories has already been ruled out: carbon monoxide poisoning. Police immediately said there were “no obvious signs of a gas leak” at the couple’s Santa Fe, New Mexico home, and now the New Mexico Gas Company confirmed it! They revealed on Tuesday there was a minor leak, but it was definitely not big enough to kill them. Sheriff Adan Mendoza also said Gene and Betsy tested negative for carbon monoxide. All of that definitively knocked out the theory!

Another idea some people had? Gene and Betsy may have had a pact to die by suicide together. It would be so upsetting if it were true — but apparently not all that rare in elderly couples of failing health.

However, James Gill, the chief medical examiner from the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, doesn’t believe a “companion suicide” happened here! Why? It’s all because of where the bodies were found. The couple were found in different areas of the home, with the 95-year-old actor in the mudroom and his wife in the bathroom. Gill — who is NOT working on the case, just offering his expertise — explained to People on Tuesday:

“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.”

If it’s not suicide or carbon monoxide poisoning, what happened then? Gill thinks there is a chance Gene “collapsed,” saying:

“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. And the fact that he’s ambulatory, that I think is important too, because sometimes we’ll see instances where someone is bedridden and maybe they have dementia and then their caregiver dies from a natural event, and then there’s no one there to take care of them, and then they can die from dehydration or what have you. I don’t think that’s the case in this.”

In fact, with Hackman in the mudroom — the entryway right by the door to the house — with sunglasses and a cane by him, it’s possible he was planning to go for a walk. That suggests he died unexpectedly.

It sounds like Gill may be running with the theory of another forensic pathologist, Dr. Michael Baden, had — that Gene suffered cardiac arrest and passed out. Given the Superman star had a history of heart disease, a pacemaker, and family friends said his health started “slipping” over the past few months, this seems pretty likely!

But what about his wife? Surrounded by pills? Baden believes Betsy may have rushed to the bathroom to grab her husband’s medication during the emergency — and in her rush fell, hitting her head on the way down. He theorizes she “had some internal injury to the brain that doesn’t show up on the outside or bleeding in the inside of the brain.” Since no one was around to help, she died. The classical pianist had pills like thyroid medication, Tylenol, and diltiazem — a blood pressure medication — scattered around her. Police also said in a search warrant that it looked like the pill bottles fell. So, all this seems plausible when you look at the facts we have so far!

However, as Gill mentions, there are also still a lot of unknown details in the story — like the exact time Betsy and Gene died. Did she die first? Or did he? We know he passed away on February 17, nine days before they were found, because of his pacemaker. But Betsy’s day of death has yet to be revealed. Cops noted she had been dead for some time, as she was already in a state of decomposition, and mummification started on her hands and feet. But beyond that? An exact time of death hasn’t been given.

One thing James is almost certain about? What happened to their beloved dog. Like Dr. Baden, he believes he may have passed away from dehydration — or even starvation:

“I think the dog could easily be explained by just not getting enough food and water. And they can only survive for a week or so without food and water.”

Such a horrible tragedy…

Hopefully, the family will get answers about the deaths of Gene and Betsy soon. Thoughts, Perezcious readers? Let us know!

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, help is available. Consider contacting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, by calling, texting, or chatting, or go to 988lifeline.org.

[Image via WENN , Letterman/YouTube]