Forensic expert shares theory on 'perplexing' deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO: Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead alongside their pet dog in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on February 26.

The authorities have ruled "no foul play", but have considered the circumstances as "suspicious" as their bodies were found at different locations.

According to the authorities, the Oscar-winning actor had likely died about nine days before his and wife's bodies were discovered.

Forensic expert suggests Gene Hackman suffered cardiac arrest

Forensic pathologist Dr Michael Baden shared his theory on the couple's deaths, suggesting they may have resulted from a tragic accident rather than foul play.

"That event would have been a cardiac arrest caused by an abnormal pulse rate,"  Dr Michael Baden said on Fox News.

"The pacemaker keeps track of the pulse, and when it gets down too low, it discharges. And that's all in the record," Baden said.

Baden noted that Hackman, 95, had severe heart disease, coronary artery disease, and high blood pressure, conditions that are among the most common causes of death in the United States.

"So the autopsy showed he didn't have any injury," said Baden, adding "There was no carbon monoxide. And he had — the most common cause of death in this country — severe heart disease, coronary artery disease, and high blood pressure perhaps, from what's been released."

Deputies found Hackman’s body in a mudroom, lying on the floor near a walking cane and sunglasses, according to a search warrant affidavit released by the Santa Fe Sheriff's Office.

The document suggested that Hackman may have "suddenly fallen."

Forensic pathologist says Betsy Arakawa may have collapsed while trying to help Gene Hackman

Dr Michael Baden said that Betsy Arakawa, 65, may have been trying to assist her husband when she suffered a fatal accident.

"She may have struck her head on the way down and had some internal injury to the brain that doesn't show up on the outside or bleeding in the inside of the brain," Baden said.

Arakawa was found on the bathroom floor near a space heater. On the countertop was an open orange prescription bottle with scattered pills nearby.

The search warrant affidavit listed thyroid medication, blood pressure medication, and Tylenol among the items taken from the house.

Baden suggested that she may have rushed to get her husband's blood pressure medication before falling.

Gene Hackman's deceased dog was found near Betsy Arakawa

The couple's German Shepherd was found several feet away from Betsy Arkawa.

"What was perplexing to me initially with the release was the death of a dog also, which I thought was free in the house," said Baden.

"And that's why I think that the carbon monoxide [theory] was a very good thought with them breathing in the same air," he added.

However, Baden noted that the dog had been inside a kennel and likely died from dehydration "during the nine-day period that he couldn't get out of the kennel," he said.

Baden added that the circumstances surrounding the deaths made them particularly unusual.

"The circumstances and who he was — he was beloved by so many — are what make it so unusual," said Baden.

"Because heart disease and collapsing and dying with a pacemaker is common in the United States," he added.

"But the circumstances of the two of them isolated by themselves," he continued, adding "And that may have been the reason that 911 wasn't called, for example, while his wife was trying to get him some medication and fell."