James Gill, Chief Medical Examiner, with the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, is not investigating Hackman's death in his professional capacity. But he offered insight into the tragedy to PEOPLE, theorizing that a “companion suicide” — where a couple dies by suicide together — is not likely.

The mystery surrounding Gene Hackman and his wife's death continues, after the Hollywood great was found dead in his Santa Fe home, having died a number of days earlier

Hollywood megastar Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead at their home in New Mexico last week, but police still don't know how they died