RIP Gene Hackman

I'm going to sound tin hat, but I'm not buying this.

They have adult children, they have friends. No one texted or called the wife for a week? No one called him, no one came over?

Also, the dog that was left in the crate was described as the wife's constant companion, why was that the dog that was in a crate in a room with the door closed?

There's more to this, but I wouldn't expect anything less from Hollywood and California to sweep things under the rug.
This thread digressed to the topic in general. As for the Hackman case specifically, I admit that I can't confirm exactly what happened. I never heard of him having enemies, but he did have problems with at least one stalker years ago. Like much of what happens in the news, it's very difficult for the "average" person to get accurate information. What has been presented as the official narrative seems very strange, so it may be true or it may be a cover-up.

Did Jeffrey Epstein commit suicide or was he murdered in prison? Was Malcolm X killed by Black Muslims or was the targeted by the Feds? Entire books have been written about Ted Kennedy and his bridge mishap. We can have opinions about what really happened (like I think Epstein was murdered) but most of us can only focus so much on any one incident.
 
Being lucid isn't mutually exclusive from being in constantly worsening pain or knowing you are approaching that point of pain.
I think though @TheRedChamber was talking specifically about conditions like Alzheimer's, where the decline is primarily mental and the point where death becomes preferable might come at a stage when the person is no longer mentally competent to make that call.

I'm sorry for you loss. Yes, I was thinking of the situation surrounding this case on top of the Terry Pratchett documentary made on the subject during his illness. I think many of us have seen loved ones suffer and pass on from cancer and I wouldn't downplay how devastating it can be. That said, Alzheimer's downright terrifies me and, without knowing what was going on in Gene Hackman's mind during those seven days, it is sobering to think that your wife could be lying dead in the house and you are just either unable to do anything and quite possibly not even able to process it at a basic human level anymore.
 
This thread digressed to the topic in general. As for the Hackman case specifically, I admit that I can't confirm exactly what happened. I never heard of him having enemies, but he did have problems with at least one stalker years ago. Like much of what happens in the news, it's very difficult for the "average" person to get accurate information. What has been presented as the official narrative seems very strange, so it may be true or it may be a cover-up.

Did Jeffrey Epstein commit suicide or was he murdered in prison? Was Malcolm X killed by Black Muslims or was the targeted by the Feds? Entire books have been written about Ted Kennedy and his bridge mishap. We can have opinions about what really happened (like I think Epstein was murdered) but most of us can only focus so much on any one incident.
Very true and seeing that we live in a time where many doubt the mainstream news-or at least should-you are stuck often times with wondering if what you're getting is true.

You mentioned Kennedy, my wife is from Boston and her god mother worked for Tip O'Neil for a long time, she has a lot of insider info, and I'll leave it at the worst you've heard about that, probably isn't as bad as it was. No tears should have been shed for his passing.
 
Very true and seeing that we live in a time where many doubt the mainstream news-or at least should-you are stuck often times with wondering if what you're getting is true.

You mentioned Kennedy, my wife is from Boston and her god mother worked for Tip O'Neil for a long time, she has a lot of insider info, and I'll leave it at the worst you've heard about that, probably isn't as bad as it was. No tears should have been shed for his passing.

I doubt his story that he got lost and went in the opposite direction. One book suggested that he wasn't even in the car and she was driving the car alone. I highly doubt that one too.
 
I doubt his story that he got lost and went in the opposite direction. One book suggested that he wasn't even in the car and she was driving the car alone. I highly doubt that one too.
The Kennedy's, our generation of them at least, are gutter trash. Did you know if you have enough money the Catholic Church will annul a 20 year marriage so you can bet remarried in their church?

I live in RI and Patrick was in office here when he was caught in the airport with a gun and flying high.

Wonder where we'd be if that was us?
 
I'm going to sound tin hat, but I'm not buying this.

They have adult children, they have friends. No one texted or called the wife for a week? No one called him, no one came over?

Also, the dog that was left in the crate was described as the wife's constant companion, why was that the dog that was in a crate in a room with the door closed?

There's more to this, but I wouldn't expect anything less from Hollywood and California to sweep things under the rug.
You are sounding tinfoil hat.

I don't want to get into most of the more ghoulish aspects of this, but the evidence as presented (particularly the wife's partial mummification, i.e., being dead longer) fits the scenario as described by the police. In other reports I've seen, they'd both gotten more reclusive over the last year, probably as Hackman's health, both physical and mental, went downhill quickly.

His children were all grown (fifty-eight at the youngest), and none of them were Arakawa's children, nor did Arakawa have children of her own from previous relationships. In addition, she had stopped calling her family as often about eight months before her death; she'd previously called her mom once a month, then slowed and stopped. Neighbors said the pair still waved if they saw them, but hadn't been invited into their home, or even engaged in more than a few words of conversation, in quite some time. During and after COVID, they'd both become a lot more careful about protecting Hackman's immune system, leading to less socializing in general.

One other thing to note: the age difference. Hackman's children said Arakawa had been very protective of their father and wonderful at taking care of him as his health began to fail. If she (quite reasonably, given her relative youth and health) set up the "system" of their life in such a way that she was the sole person watching out for him, then she died quickly and unexpectedly... it would look almost exactly like this.

Putting all that aside, though, what's the motive for foul play? Hackman retired from acting almost 21 years ago and lived in a town that was intentionally as far from Hollywood as possible, at least in terms of vibe. They had been large donors and significant boosters to the art community in Santa Fe and was generally well-liked, according to reports. Neither he nor his wife had significant connection to politics or to big business. He was a recluse with few close remaining friends and adult children with adult children of their own to deal with. There's just nothing there.

It's very sad, but let's not make it into something it's not. This isn't Epstein or even Marilyn Monroe "committing suicide." It's just an unfortunate pair of deaths, of the kind that probably happens at least once a week somewhere in this country, given heightened scrutiny due to fame.
 
His children were all grown (fifty-eight at the youngest), and none of them were Arakawa's children, nor did Arakawa have children of her own from previous relationships. In addition, she had stopped calling her family as often about eight months before her death; she'd previously called her mom once a month, then slowed and stopped. Neighbors said the pair still waved if they saw them, but hadn't been invited into their home, or even engaged in more than a few words of conversation, in quite some time. During and after COVID, they'd both become a lot more careful about protecting Hackman's immune system, leading to less socializing in general.

In my experience, when somebody has advanced dementia/Alzheimer's/etc. it's unusual that their children would be phoning them up often no matter how much they might care. If you've ever tried to talk to somebody you love who no longer remembers who you are, and who won't remember that call for more than a couple of minutes, you'll know how painful and pointless that can be.
 
In my experience, when somebody has advanced dementia/Alzheimer's/etc. it's unusual that their children would be phoning them up often no matter how much they might care. If you've ever tried to talk to somebody you love who no longer remembers who you are, and who won't remember that call for more than a couple of minutes, you'll know how painful and pointless that can be.
Which is why it strikes me odd that no one was calling the wife who would be the one to ask about their father.

Them not being her kids is irrelevant, my wife is my daughter's step mom and they call her more than they call me. Granted she never says no to anything which might factor in, but still...

I don't care what Mr thought police has to say up there, I'm still not sold, just seems way off for some reason.
 
Them not being her kids is irrelevant, my wife is my daughter's step mom and they call her more than they call me.

You're projecting.

Not everyone is like you. Or your wife or her stepdaughter.

People are different. There's not always anything nefarious. What's irrelevant to you might be highly relevant to others.
 
I don't care what Mr thought police has to say up there, I'm still not sold, just seems way off for some reason.

Ah, I see we've reached the point in the argument where you realized you've lost on logic and reason and shifted to ad hominem attacks. It's nice to know that some things never change.

...

Captain Flat Earth.
 
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My foster sister and foster brother aren't all that involved in my folks' lives. Mum is their stepmum, and they get along with her and Pop. But they have busy lives and call or text about once every other month. It isn't that they don't care. I don't know why it is the way it is. I talk to my adopted siblings more than Mum or Dad do. I'm closer to my folks (both location-wise and emotionally). I was the last one, taken in after they'd moved away. I don't believe they would call or text them any more than they do now if I weren't around. They've grown apart, it happens.
 
Not all families check on each other, or even communicate at all.

It's been over 30 years since I've talked to any of mine. I'm not even sure they're still alive and I likely would not be told of their passing, nor they of mine.
 
It is hard to imagine advanced dementia unless you’ve been there and seen how it can affect people. It isn’t like what is portrayed in movies or the popular press. Such individuals don’t know even their siblings or spouses. They have no concept of time. Their language fails them, no only speaking but comprehension as well. Hunger dissipates and they need to be led to the table and even fed by others. I can easily see the scenario laid out by the authorities as having happened. The man had zero ability to recognize the nature of his situation once she was gone. I am only surprised she didn’t seek help as she got sick but she was probably fearful of what would happen to him if she weren’t there. Maybe she thought she had the flu, got dehydrated and passed out when she stood up quickly. The Hanta virus is a nasty and aggressive one with a high mortality rate even when treated.
Just because something tragic and odd occurred to a movie star doesn’t mean something nefarious occurred.
 
I am only surprised she didn’t seek help as she got sick but she was probably fearful of what would happen to him if she weren’t there. Maybe she thought she had the flu, got dehydrated and passed out when she stood up quickly. The Hanta virus is a nasty and aggressive one with a high mortality rate even when treated.

Yeah, getting help would've meant not just getting herself to hospital, but making arrangements for the dogs and for Hackman, who likely would've been confused and upset to be in an unfamiliar place without her. On top of that, being sick often muddles people's thinking, making it harder for them to recognise when they're in real trouble.

And it sounds as if death from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome can happen quite suddenly, after several days of flu-like illness. I don't find it too hard to believe she thought it was just flu and tried to tough it out so she could look after her husband and the dogs. I've known way too many people who made similar choices, sometimes fatally.
 
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