Gene Hackman, wife and dog found dead

[AnnaS]

So sad.......

 

[sailorstitch]

I was just coming to post about the update.

Article I saw.
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment...of-hantavirus-medical-examiner-214220628.html

Such a sad outcome.

 

[Mizzoufan]

I thought the said the autopsy would take longer

 

[Mizzoufan]

I thought the said the autopsy would take longer. This to me leaves more questions then answers

 

[PollyannaMom]

Causes of death released.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/ot...TS&cvid=cbf10ac5e6094f029d45fa430b48e5d4&ei=9

Oh, how sad

 

[Liz]

I thought the said the autopsy would take longer. This to me leaves more questions then answers

They said toxicology reports would take longer, but not the actual autopsy.

 

[Dan Murphy]

They said toxicology reports would take longer, but not the actual autopsy.

Was just going to add this. Autopsies are usually done very quickly, next day usually. The toxology testing usually takes much longer, and not sure why.

 

[Pinkjgray]

So, they didn’t have any children or younger relatives checking in on them? This shows that the idea of pressuring women to have children or get married to avoid dying alone isn’t always true—you can be married and still pass away without anyone knowing for days or even weeks.

 

[Marrila]

So, they didn’t have any children or younger relatives checking in on them? This shows that the idea of pressuring women to have children or get married to avoid dying alone isn’t always true—you can be married and still pass away without anyone knowing for days or even weeks.

I think this story is by far about the tragedy of Alzheimer's disease. And much less about perceived societal expectations or not for adults.
My prayers for the couple are that they are peacefully at rest.

 

[easyas123]

So, they didn’t have any children or younger relatives checking in on them? This shows that the idea of pressuring women to have children or get married to avoid dying alone isn’t always true—you can be married and still pass away without anyone knowing for days or even weeks.

No, he had a child/children. Not sure if she did.

 

[Mizzoufan]

Did they live in filthy conditions I wonder.

 

[Marrila]

Did they live in filthy conditions I wonder.

Oh my.

 

[Pinkjgray]

I think this story is by far about the tragedy of Alzheimer's disease. And much less about perceived societal expectations or not for adults.
My prayers for the couple are that they are peacefully at rest.

Probably for you, yes. However, the fact still remains that no one checked in on them! Someone mentioned that he does have a child. If it weren’t for the maintenance man, they might have remained in the house, continuing to decay.

 

[Marrila]

Probably for you, yes. However, the fact still remains that no one checked in on them! Someone mentioned that he does have a child. If it weren’t for the maintenance man, they might have remained in the house, continuing to decay.

Alzheimers touches more families than you may think. No one is immune.
Schedules can change, employees can change, we have no idea what proceeded their deaths.

 

[Pinkjgray]

Alzheimers touches more families than you may think. No one is immune.
Schedules can change, employees can change, we have no idea what proceeded their deaths.

My grandmother had Alzheimer’s and died from the illness; therefore, I get it. Luckily, my mom lived on the same block. Moreover, my siblings and I also lived close by.

Very sad, nonetheless.

 

[JBRB828]

Did they live in filthy conditions I wonder.

No. She got this sickness from being in/near the garage and other outside places near there. I believe it was said there were no mouse dropping in the house.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Surprised they didn’t have housekeeping or home care that came in on a regular basis.
She had a lot on her plate with elderly spouse with dementia, pets and a large home.

 

[VandVsmama]

Gene Hackman was a really great actor.

Also FYI, in NM (and even parts of Yosemite National Park!), there are rodents that carry hantavirus. Doesn't mean their home was filthy. In fact, there were some pics online of a couple of the interior rooms of their house and everything looked very picked up.

You could contract it by doing something as simple as gardening in your front or backyard and breathing in dust that's kicked up which has hantavirus-infected rodent droppings in it. Hackman's wife probably had no idea she was infected with hantavirus...given all of the influenza going around, there's a decent chance she thought it was that or just a really bad cold, until it quickly did her in. Hantavirus kills its victims very quickly.

What they went through is really sad. Could you imagine basically reliving over and over again the discovery of your wife's dead body? And then a moment later, you forget it all. Over and over and over again for a week. What a nightmare.

 

[HopperFan]

So, they didn’t have any children or younger relatives checking in on them? This shows that the idea of pressuring women to have children or get married to avoid dying alone isn’t always true—you can be married and still pass away without anyone knowing for days or even weeks.

He had children but there doesn't seem to be photographs of them in many years. It was stated that his work kept him away so much that relationships were difficult.

I think this story is by far about the tragedy of Alzheimer's disease. And much less about perceived societal expectations or not for adults.
My prayers for the couple are that they are peacefully at rest.

It seems strange that it seemed no one "knew" for sure he had this other than some observation from photos. Sounds like she very much kept him away from public eye and possibly his kids as well??

But yes ... there is little to no help if you can't afford it. There is that heart felt obligation that a spouse must become a caretaker no matter how hard. While I imagine they could afford it we don't know how their financial structure was set up, did they have enough without liquidating?

Surprised they didn’t have housekeeping or home care that came in on a regular basis.
She had a lot on her plate with elderly spouse with dementia, pets and a large home.

That surprised me. The house looks huge, I assume he has some money in the bank and why didn't they have weekly home health checks, why didn't they have housekeeper? Sounds like maintenance might have been a community one, not personal. MY gut is she had isolated him so much that perhaps it became a total protection mechanism keeping others from the home. Perhaps she feared his kids would want to step in and take him from her? Never know what is going on behind closed doors.

 

[barkley]

But yes ... there is little to no help if you can't afford it. There is that heart felt obligation that a spouse must become a caretaker no matter how hard. While I imagine they could afford it we don't know how their financial structure was set up, did they have enough without liquidating?

I don't think cost was an issue-his net worth has been estimated at $80 million. it's been reported that for decades they were very private people who socialized on a very limited basis. she was apparantly healthy up until the exposure that took her life and likely felt no need to bring in outside help. her own mother has dementia and a live in caretaker so she may have seen the pros/cons to different arrangements.