Obviously how and why Gene Hackman died is essential to discover and much of the media attention is there. But I think there is another side to this which is so sad - the fact that they were dead for about 10 days before they were discovered
I find it so difficult to believe that someone with his way of life would not have cleaners or gardeners coming in daily who would have found them.
And he was wearing a pacemaker - surely he could afford the sophisticated version that is reporting back to the cardiology department constantly? Seemingly not.
And what about his children and grandchildren?
I don’t have children so as an outsider to family life I am always amazed at friends and guests at our gite who seem to be constantly in touch with their offspring, via whatsapp and the like.
It feels like a very lonely life (or maybe just very self-sufficient). Tough though if you both go together.
I know someone who lost her husband and then was afraid that she would die and no one would know. So, for a time at least she rang a friend each morning to say “I’m still alive”.
I read that he died several days ago when his pacemaker recorded the last time it worked, so I wonder if his wife took the pills it was reported were on the floor after shutting the dog in a cupboard where it probably died of starvation and she died of an overdose because she could not bear to go on alone. The daughters did not seem at all bothered and started the carbon monoxide theory which has been disproved. He was 95 so could have gone at any time. Think that is what happened personally but no doubt we shall know the full story eventually. The climate in N.Mexico apparently mummified parts of their bodies with the cold. Very sad to end up like that.
I feel sad for the dog who died a slow and miserable death locked in the cupboard by someone for some reason it didn’t understand.
Possibly done so that it did not have to resort to eating the dead bodies which is what happens sometimes.
One thing that is odd is the front door was ajar when the maintenance workers arrived, strange thing to do if you’re planning a suicide.
Seems he had 3 dogs, 2 of which are absolutely fine.
Thats the only positive
Many telecare services will provide an “I’m all right” service where if you fail to follow your usual routine (ie open the fridge by 9am) they will call to see if you are ok.
I find it even sadder now that we know how they died and when.
And even more extraordinary that they did not have someone coming in daily to at least keep an eye on them and possibly help with Gene as he had Alzheimer’s.
I understand that they valued their privacy very highly and, after all, his wife was only 65.
Had she wanted help with caring for her husband, she could have asked for it/organised it… but (so far as we are aware) she did not do either.
She was seen out shopping etc on 11th February, GH’s pacemaker stopped on the 18th February.
The couple were “found” a fortnight after she was seen out and about… on 26th February.
Some people value their privacy above all else. There have been cases in France where a body lies undiscovered sometimes for months… all because the person deliberately kept themselves apart.
Makes you think about your own situation and what can happen if you don’t have family keeping an eye out regularly.
We are all so different. OH and me… we aren’t reclusive and I doubt we’d lie dead on the floor for more than a couple of days. 
One of our neighbours will phone me if our shutters remain unusually closed… just to check… and we do the same for them.
Also, we are out and about… seen by others and us seeing them…
On the other hand, the Parisian who has bluntly stated “I want to be alone” and lives in the wilderness at the end of a long, private track… might well pop the clogs and none of us will be any the wiser.
I’m generally good with people and social occasions, but could very easily shut the door on the world and really not mind or be missed.
The most recent news seems to be that Mrs H died from some sort of respiratory disease and Mr H perhaps didn’t realise because of his dementia. He dies a week later.
Suggestions it was hantavirus that killed Mrs H. Caught from rodents, would have thought their dogs would have scared any rodents away.
Ours would leave them around as presents.
From what I read, the main infestation was in the outbuildings but with little sign in the house. Seems one can catch the virus by breathing in the polluted air and that’s put me right off cleaning out our outbuildings…
I’ve heard similar warnings about being careful around Bats and as we have a colony in our attics I’m wondering if this is a similar virus. We are very careful when we go up there and will be even more so after this.
Illustrating, yet again, the importance of a good cat.
Or a good ratter.
Hantavirus is a scary one. Can contract it just by say, a mouse with it runs across your counter one night, it leaves some urine, you don’t see it (wouldn’t even feel it), you make a sandwich, touch the counter, touch your food, eat, now you got it. In some it mimics a cold, in others it might mimic the stomach flu, right up until it gets too bad for you to do anything about.