Gene Hackman update issued as pathologist makes bombshell claim

He has debunked a theory

Police revealed Hackman had died aged 95 along with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, in New Mexico.

The couple's bodies were reportedly showing signs of decomposition and were partially mummified - with some speculating a 'companion suicide' as the cause of death.

Police have said that Hackman was found dead in the house's mud room, with his cane and sunglasses near him on the ground, while his wife was discovered lying on the bathroom floor with prescription pills strewn across the nearby countertop.

One of their dogs was also found dead on the property while two others were roaming around and said to be in good health.

A chief medical examiner has now debunked the possibility of a suicide pact, saying that in 'cases like that', the couple are usually found next to each other in bed.

James Gill, Connecticut's Chief Medical Examiner told People: "I’ve seen cases like that – usually they’re together in bed. The fact that they’re in two separate locations tells me that I think that’s less likely.

"From the initial kind of circumstances, it seems like he may have collapsed — he's got a history of heart disease. He's got a pacemaker. So that would not be unusual."

Police are still piecing together the couple's last movements and are speaking to several people including the actor's children Christopher, 65, Elizabeth Jean, 63, and Leslie, 58, who he had with his ex-wife Faye Maltese.

As the investigation enters its seventh day, Gill highlights one of the most important questions surrounding the tragic deaths, asking: "What’s the time [of Hackman’s death] related to his wife? When did she die? That’s a little bit more of a grey area, I think."

It is believed the pair had been dead for several days before they were found with their 12-year-old dog Zinna.

Gill surmised that there simply wasn’t enough food or water available for the dog.