The Hollywood actor, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 63, a classical pianist, were found dead at their home in Santa Fe in the state of New Mexico on Wednesday.
In a news conference held on Friday evening, authorities said new evidence suggests the couple had been been dead since 17 February.
Police said there were no apparent signs of foul play in the couple’s home and that it is a “reasonable assumption” that Hackman died when his pacemaker had its “last event”.
Gene Hackman (right) as Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle in ‘The French Connection’, directed by William Friedkin, 1971. In the background (far left) is Roy Scheider (1932 – 2008) as Buddy ‘Cloudy’ Russo. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)“An initial interrogation was conducted of Mr Hackman’s pacemaker.
He also said: “Initial findings noted no external trauma to either individual.
“The official results of the autopsy and toxicology reports are pending.”
How were they discovered?
He was discovered wearing grey tracksuit bottoms, a long-sleeve blue t-shirt and brown slippers. A pair of sunglasses and a walking cane were found next to his body.
A German shepherd dog owned by the couple was found dead in a closet near to Arakawa’s body.
Mendoza had previously said there were several conflicting stories about which doors were locked at the house – he said several were unlocked and a rear door was open, which allowed two dogs that survived to go in and out.
He also said he thought the front door was closed but unlocked.
Caption: Gene Hackman during Runaway Jury Press Conference with Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman, John Cusack and Rachel Weisz at Wyndham Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. (Photo by Vera Anderson/WireImage) Photographer: Vera Anderson Provider: WireImage Source: WireImageNew Mexico Gas Company tested gas lines in and around the home after the bodies were discovered, according to a search warrant, and no signs of problems were found.
A search was carried out after the bodies were discovered and several items were “secured from the residence for evidentiary purposes”.
Work is now being done to “sift through cell phones” and to look through a calendar found near the couple’s bodies.
No trauma or injuries
Mr Mendoza said there is nothing which suggests either Hackman or Arakawa suffered a fall, adding: “I don’t think, you know, there was any indication that, again, there was no trauma or injured themselves, or head injury or brain injury.”
The moment when a pacemaker stops working could mark the point when a person dies but not always, according to Dr Philip Keen, the retired chief medical examiner in Maricopa County, Arizona.
The house owned by Hackman and his Arakawa stands in New Mexico Photographer: Roberto E. Rosales Provider: AP“But it’s not necessarily because some people get a pacemaker to augment things, not necessarily replace things.”
Hackman, who was widely respected as one of the greatest actors of his generation, was a five-time Oscar nominee who won best actor in a leading role for The French Connection in 1972 and best actor in a supporting role for Unforgiven two decades later.
His daughters Elizabeth and Leslie, and his granddaughter Annie, said they will miss the actor “sorely” and are “devastated by the loss”.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Everything we know so far about Gene Hackman and wife’s death )
Also on site :