New evidence alters timeline of Hackman and wife deaths

New information has been released by police which alters the timeline of the deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, who were found dead in February.

Initially, authorities believed Arakawa died on February 11 and Hackman a week later, however the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office now says Arakawa made multiple phone calls to a health clinic on February 12. 

The new phone data shows three calls were made on February 12 to Cloudberry Health, and a call was also received on the same phone number made by the clinic. 

According to a doctor from the clinic Arakawa had cancelled the appointment on February 12 on February 10, saying that she needed to care for her husband. 

The couple were both found dead on February 26, with authorities believing Hackman died on February 18, which is the date of his last recorded pacemaker activity. 

Experts say the star's Alzheimer's may have prevented him from realising his wife had already died in their home. 

One of the couple's dogs also died after being found in a crate following surgery. A necropsy report showed the animal died of starvation and dehydration.