Did Gene Hackman and wife Betsy die by ‘companion suicide’? Expert weighs in on theory as mystery deepens

The shocking discovery of the bodies of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa at the end of last month surprised researchers, who still try to determine how and when the pair died.

Hackman, who was 95, and Arakawa, 65, were discovered in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, by a neighborhood security officer after employees of Pest Control reported that they were unable to contact the residents.

Authorities who investigate the dead have already said that a deadly leak of carbon monoxide is unlikely, but now an expert who is not involved in the research is another theory that is recently connected: that Hackman and Arakawa may have died by 'company suicide'.

James Gill, Chief Medical Examiner for the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, shared with people on Tuesday that the theory is an unlikely explanation for the enigmatic dead.

Gill, who said he had treated with 'such cases' in the past, explained that couples who die in a double suicide' usually … are in bed together.

The police, however, said that Hackman was found dead in the mud room of the house, with his gaze and sunglasses near him on the floor, while Arakawa was discovered on the bathroom floor with recipe pills that have been littered over the nearby countertop.

The shocking discovery of the bodies of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have surprised fans and researchers, with the possibility that a 'accompanying suicide' is considered; Seen in 2003

But an expert who is not involved in the research, considers it unlikely that Hackman and his wife both killed themselves, according to people; The police are seen outside the Hackman house on 27 February in Santa Fe, New Mexico

The two are supposed to be dead for a few days before they were found, and both bodies had signs of decomposition and were partially mummified.

According to the Sheriff Adan Mendoza of Santa Fe County, the Pacemaker of Hackman was last registered as working on 17 February, nine days before the bodies were discovered, which could indicate possible on the day he died.

“The fact that they are at two separate locations tells me that I think that is less likely,” Gill continued.

The medical researcher said the first information about the scene makes it seem as if Hackman had collapsed.

“He has a history of heart conditions. He has a pacemaker. So that would not be unusual, “he said.

Another detail that Gill concentrated on was the fact that Hackman was 'ambulatory' for his death, of which he thought it was reduced the chance of a scenario in which he remained potentially helpless if Arakawa had first died.

“Sometimes we see cases where someone is bedridden and maybe they have dementia and then their caregiver dies of a natural event, and then there is no one to take care of them, and then they can die from dehydration or what do you have,” he explained. “I don't think this is the case.”

That information can be in particular useful to compare when Arakawa may have died, although Gill admits 'that is a bit of a more gray area'.

Hackman and Arakawa were found in separate rooms on 26 February, but James Gill, Chief Medical Examiner for the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, said that couples are involved in 'Companion Suicide' are usually ' [found] together in bed '; Seen in 1991

Gill said that the fact that Hackman was still 'ambulatory' before his death lowered the chance of a scenario in which he remained potentially helpless if Arakawa had first died; Seen in 2003 in Beverly Hills

Gill added that the pacemaker of Hackman, who reportedly stopped working on 17 February, may be able to limit the time of the actor, depending on which model it is

Some fans of the actor were disturbed to hear that one of the three dogs of the couple, a 12-year-old Australian kelpie-mixed Zina, was found dead in their house, while the other two dogs were still alive, according to USA Today.

The dead dog was locked up in a closed kennel in a cupboard in the neighborhood where Arakawa was found, while a living dog was found in the bathroom, just 15 feet from the body of Arakawa, while the other outside was found on the site.

Gill said that the fact that the dead dog was discovered in his closed crate means that it probably died of 'just not getting enough food and water', adding that dogs 'can only survive for a week or so without food and water.'