Residents mourning Mr. Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, are consumed by the unusual circumstances surrounding their deaths and why they were not discovered sooner.

Authorities in Santa Fe, New Mexico, say actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease, compounded by severe Alzheimer's disease, about a week after his wife passed away from a virus.

Actor Gene Hackman and his wife made Santa Fe their home decades ago. The northern New Mexico city has a reputation of being a refuge for actors and authors seeking to escape the spotlight.