Celebrity Death: Gene Hackman 95

[StreetHawk]

Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa likely died 10 days before bodies found, sheriff says

US investigators are still trying to establish how Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy died.

www.bbc.com

His pacemaker last registered activity on Feb 17th. Also, according to his daughter, he did Pilates and yoga several times per week, so he may have been in better physical condition than assumed.

If that is the case, then it would explain why the reports are showing that he passed over a week before his body was discovered. If he was in good enough health that they didn't need help to come in a couple of times a week to help. Like no yogo/pilates instructor (maybe he just did his own routine or followed something online), no bathing help, etc.

Makes the passing of his wife very curious....

 

[MVP of West Hollywd]

I'm thinking she died or had medical emergency first, then he fell and had nobody around leading to them both dying.

 

[Jumptheshark]

I'm thinking she died or had medical emergency first, then he fell and had nobody around leading to them both dying.

What I can not figure out is why it took 10 days to find them? According to many people in the area they were usually seen every other day

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

I'm thinking she died or had medical emergency first, then he fell and had nobody around leading to them both dying.

The dog was in a kennel so as much as a brutal way that is to go it's explained. Heart pills were found beside his wife. He was in the room beside the exit with the door unlocked, I'm betting that he came back from a walk, had a heart attack, his wife panics, goes to gets his meds, either falls and hits her head on the space heater or has her own medical event and passes away as well. Alternatively, she could have been having a medical event, went to grab her heart pills, collapses, he sees, goes to get help and has his own cardiac event (I'd say less likely as he's over 30 years older, even though by all accounts he was in good health for his age, still driving, biking etc).

 

[StreetHawk]

What I can not figure out is why it took 10 days to find them? According to many people in the area they were usually seen every other day

They were fairly private people from all indications. Really depends on how accurate that information is. My grandfather lived alone til he was like 95, but my uncle would see him at least every other day to check in on him and bring him food or take him out.

If they didn't have people regularly coming over (friends) or to help Gene exercise/bath, etc. then just NOT being seen outside might not trigger other's concerns. Given the age gap between the couple of like 30 years, most would expect the wife to handle things if something came up or be able to call for help.

 

[DaaaaB's]

They were fairly private people from all indications. Really depends on how accurate that information is. My grandfather lived alone til he was like 95, but my uncle would see him at least every other day to check in on him and bring him food or take him out.

If they didn't have people regularly coming over (friends) or to help Gene exercise/bath, etc. then just NOT being seen outside might not trigger other's concerns. Given the age gap between the couple of like 30 years, most would expect the wife to handle things if something came up or be able to call for help.

I'm guessing they also have a big and private property where neighbours can't see them anyhow. Can't imagine they were living on some cookie cutter suburban street.

 

[Bumblebee Man]

I'm guessing they also have a big and private property where neighbours can't see them anyhow. Can't imagine they were living on some cookie cutter suburban street.

Del Boca Vista

 

[DaaaaB's]

Del Boca Vista

Phase II

 

[Leonardo87]

Just revealed the cause of death. Really tragic…

Gene Hackman cause of death revealed as sheriff says his wife died from rare virus linked to rodents a week before he did

The couple was found ‘mummified’ in their New Mexico home in February.

nypost.com

Gene Hackman lived with his dead wife’s body for a full week before succumbing to complications from heart problems and Alzheimer’s disease, officials revealed Friday.

Betsy Arakawa died of Hantavirus, a rare flu-like disease linked to rodents, the Santa Fe officials said.

Arakawa’s last left her and Hackman’s home on Feb. 11 which was also the last time she sent out any communications, according to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza.

 

[Jovavic]

Yeesh, what a way to go out

 

[Jumptheshark]

Just revealed the cause of death. Really tragic…

Gene Hackman cause of death revealed as sheriff says his wife died from rare virus linked to rodents a week before he did

The couple was found ‘mummified’ in their New Mexico home in February.

nypost.com

Gene Hackman lived with his dead wife’s body for a full week before succumbing to complications from heart problems and Alzheimer’s disease, officials revealed Friday.

Betsy Arakawa died of Hantavirus, a rare flu-like disease linked to rodents, the Santa Fe officials said.

Arakawa’s last left her and Hackman’s home on Feb. 11 which was also the last time she sent out any communications, according to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza.

Sad. Very sad.

 

[Osprey]

I imagine that he was on blood pressure and anticoagulant medications and died because his wife wasn't there to give them to him. You think that he would've died of thirst first, but perhaps he was able enough to get himself a glass of water and that's it.

Besides medications, exercise appears to be recommended for treatment of hypertension and atherosclerosis, so the exercises that he reportedly did several times per week were probably not because he was healthy but because he was sick and doctors prescribed it.

They're still investigating the dog's death, but it seems pretty likely to me that it just died of thirst because it was locked in the kennel.

 

[MVP of West Hollywd]

Dude, this was a dark way to die.

 

[End on a Hinote]

It's pretty crazy to think that despite being 95, he (as well as his wife and dog) would and should still be alive today and this was a result of a tragic sudden chain of events.

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

So his wife died due to an almost unknown rare illness and he had a heart attack. Sounds like an awful coincidence, except for the poor dog

It's pretty crazy to think that despite being 95, he (as well as his wife and dog) would and should still be alive today and this was a result of a tragic sudden chain of events.

Coroner said he was hydrated but in terrible health and died of heart disease. Apparently what she had is commonly fatal as well (very rare). I would hope he didn't starve to death as that's even worse. Brutal.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Dude, this was a dark way to die.

I agree. WE knew there was a story behind it and I think most of us would agree this is not the way we thought it would turn out.

Why was the door open? This is a sad end to to two lives

 

[GKJ]

This is like a weird episode of CSI.

Nobody spoke to Gene Hackman for an entire week?

His wife being found in the bathroom with an open prescription bottle is likely why it’s deemed suspicious.

 

[Hippasus]

Since she died first by several days and he had advanced Alzheimer's, he was probably unable to to take care of himself or the dog in the kennel. He might have been the one who left the back door open, and then eventually succumbed to a cardiac arrest.

 

[John Price]

Reading this it's so scary that she died of a flu and he had advanced Alzheimer's so he possibly didn't know and died a few days later. RIP both of them.

 

[DaaaaB's]

Such a sad story and a horrible way for anyone to go in Gene's case. Awful way to go for the dog too. I realize they were private people but it's just crazy to me that they didn't have measures in place for an emergency like this. 64 isn't very old but people can die at any age or what if she had fallen suffering a severe head injury amongst other scenarios. Can't believe they didn't have a nurse or security stopping by every couple days.

 

[Jumptheshark]

this is make me sad, There is no other word I can use. Dumbfounded