Gene Hackman's 'suspicious' death theories and exactly what cops saw inside home
A police report has revealed clues into Gene Hackman and his wife's mysterious deaths after the double tragedy was found suspicious enough to require an in-depth investigation
Investigators are working to determine details about the tragic deaths of husband and wife, Hollywood actor Gene Hackman and classical pianist Betsy Arakaw.
The couple were mysteriously found dead in their Santa Fe home on Wednesday afternoon, alongside their beloved German Shepherd dog. Two maintenance workers discovered the bodies and called 911 to request urgent help as they could see a lifeless Betsy lying on the bathroom floor from the window.
Cops arrived at the scene and following initial investigation, labelled the tragedy as 'suspicious'. Though there were no signs of foul play, a number of details proved unsettling. Over the past 48 hours, theories have emerged about their pair's final moments and how their quiet and secluded life ended in such horror. Here, the Mirror takes a look and what has been said about the deaths...
A cop suspects the actor had a sudden fall as his walking stick and sunglasses lay beside his body (Image:
AP)Circumstances around 'sudden fall'One cop suspects the Hollywood actor collapsed unexpectedly. Gene's body was discovered in a state of decomposition in a mudroom near the kitchen, dressed in grey joggers, a long-sleeve T-shirt, brown slippers and a walking cane, with sunglasses lying beside him - a detail that hints he may have suddenly fallen.
A new police report said cops "observed a pair of feet and legs on the ground near the kitchen area" which they found to be Gene. It added: "Based on Deputy Thomas' training and experience he suspected the male individual has suddenly fallen. Deputy Thomas advised the male decedent also showed obvious signs of death, similar and consistent with the female decedent."
Betsy was found lying on the bathroom floor with an open orange bottle of prescription pills scattered across a countertop. It remains unclear what the pills were. Her body was decomposing with bloating to her face and mummification on her hands and feet.
A space heater was positioned close to Betsy's head, and investigators are considering whether it may have fallen. The cop report added: "He advised he suspected the heater could have fallen in the event the female abruptly fell to the ground."
One of the couple's three dogs, a brown German Shepherd, was discovered lifeless inside a closet near the bathroom, approximately 10 to 15 feet from Betsy's body. The couple's other two surviving dogs were unharmed. One was found near Betsy's remains, while the other was seen wandering around the property.
Gas leak testsIt was initially thought that the three of them had succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning, a tragedy which has earned the eerie nickname of the 'stealth assassin', but the mystery deepened when a further investigation found no gas leaks. New Mexico Gas Company tested gas lines in and around the home after the bodies were discovered.
No signs of problems were found, however, a detective noted that people exposed to gas leaks or carbon monoxide may not show signs of poisoning. A statement from the Sheriff read: "Carbon monoxide and toxicology tests were requested for both individuals. The manner and cause of death has not been determined. The official results of the autopsy and toxicology reports are pending. This remains an open investigation."
An autopsy ruled out any external trauma and signs of struggle (Image:
Getty Images) Betsy was found lying on the bathroom with pills scattered (Image:
Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)No external traumaDue to the condition of the bodies, it was clear the couple had been deceased for a while. But what led to their deaths is yet to be determined. An autopsy has ruled out any external trauma to both the actor and his wife.
A statement from the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office said: "In the early hours of Thursday, February 27, 2025, Hackman and Arakawa were transported to the Office of the Medical Investigator. An autopsy was performed. Initial findings noted no external trauma to either individual."
No signs of struggleThe front door of the home was found open and unsecured, but there was no indications of forced entry. Sheriff Adan Mendoza told The Santa Fe New Mexican: "I want to assure the community and neighbourhood that there's no immediate danger to anyone." The sheriff told the media there was "no indication of a struggle" or anything missing from the home. He said there was no indication a crime had occurred.
In a search warrant obtained by TMZ, the official who requested the search warrant wrote that he believed "the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation". It read: "The reporting party found the front door of the residence unsecured and opened, deputies observed a healthy dog running loose on the property, another healthy dog near the deceased female, a deceased dog laying 10-15 feet from the deceased female in a closet of the bathroom, the heater being moved, the pill bottle being opened and pills scattered next to the female, the male decedent being located in a separate room of the residence, and no obvious signs of a gas leak."
Gene, 95, was in 'good health' when he died, according to his daughter who said Betsy looked after himGood healthWhile Gene, 95, battled with his health over his lifetime, he was in "good physical condition" at the time of his death, according to his daughter. The award-winning actor retired in 2008 for health reasons, as he was advised by a doctor to step back from his career. He underwent an angioplasty to open his coronary arteries in his 70s.
His daughter Leslie, 58, told MailOnline that Betsy kept Gene alive and "took very, very good care of him and was always looking out for his health". She said there was "no indication" that there was anything wrong with Gene before his death. "Despite his age, he was in very good physical condition," she said, adding that her father did not have any major surgeries in his last few months.
"He liked to do Pilates and yoga, and he was continuing to do that several times a week. So he was in good health," Leslie explained. She said it had been a few months since she had last seen or heard from him, because she lives in California and he had lived a very private life. "We were close. I hadn't talked to them for a couple months, but everything was normal and everything was good," Leslie shared.
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