Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa found mummified at mansion in grim new mystery

Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found partially-mummified at the couple’s mansion, with pills strewn in their bathroom, reports have claimed.

An arrest warrant has revealed that Arakawa, 64, was found decomposed with bloating on her face and mummification in her hands and feet. The warrant, obtained by Mail Online, also saw that Sheriffs said Hollywood actor Hackman also had the same signs of decomposition as his wife.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed the tragic news, revealing that just after midnight the couple and their dog had died. The police said it is currently an active investigation but they do not believe that foul play was a factor at this time. They added two other surviving dogs were found at the property. While the investigation is still ongoing, some of his family believe carbon monoxide poisoning could be the cause of their deaths.

A statement from the Santa Fe County Sheriff in New Mexico said there is an “active investigation” was underway: “We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday afternoon at their residence on Sunset Trail. This is an active investigation – however, at this time we do not believe that foul play was a factor.”

Two maintenance workers, Roland Lowe Begay and Jesse Kesler, arrived at a sprawling Santa Fe estate on Wednesday afternoon, only to stumble upon a grim discovery – the lifeless bodies of Arakawa and her husband, a former Hollywood actor. The time was 1:46 p.m. Mountain Time.

Authorities did not publicly confirm the couple’s identities for nearly 12 hours. Newly released details about the scene may shed light on why the information was initially withheld.

According to Begay and Kesler, neither of them had seen the pair in approximately two weeks. Evidence suggests they had been deceased for some time before being found.

Arakawa was located on the bathroom floor, near an open prescription bottle with pills scattered across the counter. Officials have yet to specify what type of medication was present or whether it belonged to Arakawa or her husband.

A space heater was positioned close to her head, and investigators are considering whether it may have fallen. Meanwhile, Hackman’s body was discovered in a mudroom near the kitchen, as detailed in the search warrant.

The Oscar-winning Superman actor was found fully dressed, with his sunglasses lying beside him – a detail that hints he may have collapsed unexpectedly. Emergency responders, including firefighters, were dispatched to the residence, but no evidence of a gas leak was detected.

Earlier on Thursday, Hackman’s daughter, Elizabeth, speculated that carbon monoxide poisoning could have been responsible for the deaths of her father and stepmother.

One of their three dogs, a German Shepherd, was discovered lifeless inside a closet near the bathroom, approximately 10 to 15 feet from Betsy’s body. Initial reports mistakenly stated that the dog had died inside a kennel. The couple’s other two dogs were unharmed.

One of the surviving dogs was found near Betsy’s remains, while the other was seen wandering around the property. Investigators noted that the front door was ajar, but there were no indications of forced entry.

The Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department has ruled out foul play at this stage, though the case remains under investigation.

The 95-year-old actor had a career that spanned over six decades, with the star receiving two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, four Golden Globes, a SAG Award as well as the Silver Bear.

He was known for his roles in The French Connection, Unforgiven, I Never Sang for My Father and Bonnie and Clyde. He secured the best actor Oscar in 1972 for his role as Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in The French Connection and landed a further Academy Award in the best supporting actor category for his part in 1992 Western Unforgiven, directed by Clint Eastwood.

Born in California in 1930, Hackman left home at age 16 to enlist in the marine corps and served from 1947 to 1952 as a field radio operator and then as a broadcast journalist. He went on to study journalism and television production at the University of Illinois, but later pivoted to pursue an acting career.

Hackman had a few TV and theatre roles before breaking through with his performance in 1967’s Bonnie And Clyde, which starred Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway in the titular roles, which landed him an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor.

In his later years, Hackman lived a reclusive life – choosing to hide from the spotlight with wife Betsy and their beloved German Shepherd dogs. The actor was snapped outside a 7-Eleven store looking frail, carrying a coffee and an apple pie.

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Source: Mirror