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Did Gene Hackman’s Wife Really Die of a Broken Heart? Shocking New Theory Revealed!

BBG News

In the past few days, the enigma surrounding the simultaneous demise of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa remains largely unsolved as authorities anxiously await the completion of autopsy and toxicology reports.

95-year-old Hackman and 65-year-old Arakawa were found at their residence in Santa Fe, New Mexico, following reports from pest-control workers that they couldn’t reach the homeowners. A neighborhood security officer eventually made the discovery.

Experts not part of the ongoing investigations are starting to propose alternative theories regarding the cause of death, suggesting it may have been due to Betsy Hackman experiencing a broken heart. However, it’s important to note that carbon monoxide leak as the cause is currently considered unlikely by authorities.

James Gill, Head Medical Examiner at the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, shared with People the theory that Arakawa may have found her husband deceased and subsequently experienced a medical crisis herself.

Previously, Gill had pondered an alternative theory about the publication – a suggestion that Hackman and Arakawa might have taken their own lives together – but this idea seemed improbable to him.

According to the medical examiner, given the current data, it seems plausible that both the actor and his spouse might have passed away due to natural reasons. This could lend support to the idea often referred to as the ‘broken heart syndrome’.

Gill said that the description of how Hackman’s body was found suggests that he may have collapsed.

Gill mentioned, “He has a history of heart issues and uses a pacemaker, so it wouldn’t be surprising under those circumstances. However, what’s odd is this: given those facts, why did she unexpectedly faint as well?

He supposed that she discovered her spouse lying on the floor, implying: ‘In such a situation, one might ponder: Could the shock of witnessing someone’s death have caused her an unexpected passing?’

The police reported that Hackman was found deceased in the home’s mud room, and his can and sunglasses were found nearby on the ground. Meanwhile, Arakawa was discovered unconscious on the bathroom floor, surrounded by various prescription drugs scattered around the countertop.

It’s thought that the individuals were deceased for a few days prior to discovery, and their bodies exhibited symptoms of decay and partial mummification.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but ponder over the intriguing revelation from Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza. He stated that Hackman’s pacemaker, his vital lifeline, was last registered as functioning on February 17, a full nine days before the gruesome discovery of the bodies. This tantalizing detail, if we piece it together, might just point to the very day our beloved figure met his untimely end.

Gill further mentioned that the conditions under which the bodies were discovered might as well back up a plausible alternative hypothesis.

Instead of Arakawa experiencing a medical emergency or passing away before Hackman, it’s possible that she first fell unconscious before Hackman located her and decided to go for help or call someone, subsequently collapsing due to the emotional strain as well. Both scenarios hold equal probability.

Gill mentioned that Hackman was three decades older than Arakawa, and had a history of heart disease, which increased the plausibility of that hypothesis.

He pointed out that, indeed, an autopsy would reveal whether she suffered from heart disease, cancer, or any other ailment.

The medical expert mentions that such an occurrence, similar to a broken heart syndrome, is not unheard of.

Gill mentioned that discovering a deceased loved one could cause an immediate surge of adrenaline, which might make your heart race faster and potentially disrupt its normal rhythm.

While he initially suggested ‘companion suicide’ as unlikely, Gill didn’t completely dismiss the idea that Arakawa might have found her husband deceased. In a state of extreme distress over this discovery, she could have taken her own life, which could be the reason for the unidentified pills scattered across the bathroom counter where her body was found.

Until we receive the toxicology report results, it won’t be determined or dismissed; the process might stretch over several weeks.

Law enforcement authorities earlier opted against disclosing the specific medications that were missing, for the sake of preserving individual privacy.

Gill mentioned that the findings from the toxicology test might help eliminate ‘poisoning or trauma’ as potential causes instead.

Earlier, the medical expert expressed doubt that Hackman and Arakawa had jointly taken their own lives.

Gill, who had handled similar situations before, clarified that couples who tragically take their lives together tend to be found ‘often resting side by side in bed.’

However, Hackman was found in the home’s mud room, while Arakawa was in the bathroom. 

Gill went on to say, “Being in different places makes it seem less probable to me.

According to the medical expert, based on the preliminary details from the scene, it seems like Hackman may have suffered a sudden illness or cardiac event, given his past heart condition and use of a pacemaker.

One point Gill emphasized was that Hackman was mobile prior to his passing, a factor he believed lessened the chance of a situation where Hackman could have been left incapacitated if Arakawa had passed away first.

In certain situations, an individual might be confined to bed due to illnesses like dementia, and their primary caregiver could pass away naturally, leaving no one to attend to them. Consequently, they might die from complications such as dehydration. However, he clarified that this is not the scenario in question.

The data might prove quite beneficial for comparison when discussing the time around which Arakawa passed away, as Gill acknowledges that this topic is somewhat ambiguous.

It was upsetting news for some followers of the actor when they discovered that one of the couple’s three dogs, a 12-year-old Australian Kelpie mix named Zinna, had tragically passed away in their home, leaving the other two pets still alive, as reported by USA Today.

In a closet close to where Arakwa was discovered, there was a deceased dog confined within a shut kennel, whereas another living dog was found in the bathroom, situated merely 15 feet away from Arakwa’s corpse; the third dog was found wandering outside on the property.

Gill explained that finding the deceased dog inside its sealed kennel suggests it may have perished due to lack of adequate nourishment and hydration. He further stated that dogs can generally live for around a week without access to food and water.

As reported by People, the two surviving dogs – Bear, a German Shepherd, and Nikita, an Akita-shepherd mix who is seven years old – are currently under the care of a trusted family acquaintance.

Initially, the tragic passing of Zinna led people to speculate about the possible demise of Hackman and Arakawa, due to rumors swirling around a carbon monoxide leak. However, upon further investigation, it was revealed that poor Zinna had been confined without any means to obtain nourishment, which ultimately debunked those fears. As a lifestyle expert, I always emphasize the importance of pet care and safety.

Gill finds the ‘companion suicide’ hypothesis unconvincing, but it may take a while longer for the investigation to wrap up and for the authorities to disclose the true circumstances surrounding the deaths of the Hollywood expatriates.

In more recent times, Hackman chose a secluded existence following his peaceful retirement from acting, which took place post the production of the 2004 satirical film, Welcome To Mooseport.

As a devoted fan, I’ve often pondered whether the underperformance of the movie at the box office could have influenced Hackman’s departure from Hollywood. However, in a recent rediscovered interview, Hackman himself clarified his reasons for leaving acting.

In a conversation with Empire in 2009, during his retirement period, Hackman disclosed that his heart was the reason he hadn’t returned to acting in front of the camera.

According to Hackman, what ultimately pushed me over the edge was a stress test I had taken in New York. My doctor warned me that, given my current health condition, subjecting my heart to additional strain wasn’t advisable.

Previously, during an interview on Larry King Live in 2004, Hackman openly shared that he harbored a common, natural apprehension about death.

‘I try to take care of myself,’ he said after he was asked if he was worried about his health. 

He mentioned that he doesn’t experience many fears. However, like most people, he has the natural apprehension about mortality, a concern that becomes more prominent as one reaches a certain stage in life.

Hackman added that his main priority was to ensure that his wife and family were ‘taken care of.’

‘Other than that, I don’t have a lot of fears,’ he declared.

In the very same year, he had a conversation with the King, when the movie “Welcome To Mooseport” hit the screens to a generally unfavorable response from both critics and viewers.

During the process of getting divorced, he chooses to campaign for the position of town mayor as a means to strengthen some of his commercial ventures. However, a local hardware store owner (Ray Romano) steps forward to contest the election, hoping that holding public office might reignite the affection of his girlfriend.

After the release of “Welcome To Mooseport”, Hackman declined any further film roles, leaving his many movie enthusiasts, who appreciated his multiple iconic performances, feeling let down as they wished for a more impactful final act from the Academy Award winner.

A portion of the disillusionment stemmed from the actor’s choice to delay his retirement confirmation for several years, thereby making film enthusiasts yearn for a further late-career success.

In a 2008 interview with Reuters, which was four years following the release of “Welcome To Mooseport,” he finally confirmed his retirement.

As an ardent admirer putting words to my heart’s content, I’ve never publicly declared retirement with a press conference, but the truth is, I no longer wish to grace the stage with my performances. For quite some time now, I’ve been advised to keep this secret, just in case a truly remarkable opportunity might arise. However, the allure of that limelight has faded, and I yearn for something different now.

Before directing his last movie, Hackman expressed doubts about the possibility of going back to the theater.

He mentioned that he would need to feel at ease if there was a possibility of his return, as he’s had a comfortable lifestyle for too long and doesn’t want to rough it anymore. During his time in New York, he experienced challenging conditions, referring to it as a ‘cockroach era’ in his life.

In a 2011 GQ interview, he expressed that comfort would be his main priority when considering a return to filmmaking, and he suggested that he would prefer to work on a project from the comfort of his own home.

‘In my own house, maybe, without them disturbing anything and just one or two people,’ he said.

Those words took on a more sinister tone after Hackman was found dead at his home in Santa Fe.

It seems that Hackman and Arakawa have been deceased for quite a while now, as the maintenance staff who found their bodies mentioned they hadn’t laid eyes on either of them for about two full weeks prior to the discovery.

The bodies, as discovered, exhibited indicators consistent with the process of mummification – a finding made possible through a search warrant secured by DailyMail.com.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I’d like to shed light on an intriguing topic – mummification. While it’s often linked to ancient Egyptian burials, did you know that it can also occur naturally in cold and dry environments where bacteria find it hard to thrive? This description fits perfectly with the climate of Santa Fe during February.

The postmortem examinations on both deceased individuals have already been carried out, yet officials are still anticipating the comprehensive findings, along with the results from a toxicology analysis.

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2025-03-06 10:43

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