Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa's deaths called 'suspicious enough' for investigation as new details released
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa's deaths are being treated as 'suspicious enough' to warrant further investigation, an affidavit has revealed.
The 95-year-old Hollywood veteran actor was discovered on the floor of his Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on Wednesday (February 26) this week while his wife, 65, was found in a similar position in a separate room.
One of their three dogs was also found dead on the premises.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office said they did not suspect foul play, but haven't ruled it out, and found no immediate signs of 'external trauma' to the pair.
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Police will conduct a 'thorough search and investigation', having deemed the deaths 'suspicious enough' to warrant this from the 'circumstances surrounding' the scene, according to an affidavit for a search warrant.
The document reveals a maintenance worker initially came across the scene, having found the front door of the couple's home unlocked.
At the scene, cops then found Betsy's body on the bathroom floor next to a space heater which they note 'could have fallen in the event [she] abruptly fell to the ground'.
There was also an open prescription bottle with pills scattered on the counter-top.
The affidavit notes she appeared decomposed with 'mummification' in her hands and feet.
The couple's dead German Shepherd was discovered in close proximity to her, around 10-15 feet away.
The Academy Award-winning actor was found in a similar position, on the floor of the mud-room alongside a walking cane and sunglasses, leading cops to believe he had also 'suddenly fallen'.
The Santa Fe City Fire Department found no signs of a possible carbon monoxide leak or poisoning, the document continued, nor did the New Mexico Gas Company after carrying out tests on the gas line in and around the residence.
Investigators have requested carbon monoxide and toxicology tests for both, but noted the scene as 'suspicious' based on the front door being unlocked, two healthy dogs being found, the 'heater being moved', the open pill bottle, 'no obvious signs of a gas leak' and since Hackman and Arakawa were found on the floor in different rooms.
Speaking to reporters yesterday (Thursday, February 27), the Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said there was no indication of a crime or 'obvious sign or indication of foul play' but that the authorities 'haven't ruled that out yet', reports ABC News.
Mendoza also said investigators are 'keeping everything on the table.'
He also said it 'sounds like' the pair had been dead 'for a while', but did not specify or speculate for how long.
Hackman and Arakawa, a classical pianist, tied the knot more than 30 years ago in 1991 with the former known as a legend in Hollywood, most fondly remembered for his role as Lex Luthor in the Superman movies, as well as Little Bill Daggett in the Unforgiven and Jimmy Doyle in The French Connection.
The actor was also known for being private and retired from acting in 2004.
Hackman's daughter Elizabeth has since spoken out and said the family believed her father, Arakawa, and their dog died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
The star's family also said in a statement: "He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss."
Tributes have also been flooding in for the famous pair, dubbing the deaths the 'end of an era in cinema.'
"Their impact on cinema and music will not be forgotten," said another devastated fan on social media.
Topics: Gene Hackman, Hollywood, US News, Celebrity
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