Gene Hackman dead UPDATES: Mystery deepens as police make surprise findings at actor’s home

911 call in full as distressed caretaker begs for help

Gene and Betsy were discovered by one of their caretakers, who had made their way to the property to carry out routine maintenance. On arrival, the man spotted a woman laying on the floor as he looked through a window into the property.

“Hello, my name is [redacted], I’m the caretaker for Santa Fe Summit up here about [unintelligible]. I think we just found two or one deceased person inside the house,” he said in the call.

Later in the call, the operator then asked if they were “breathing”, and the caller explained: “I have no idea, I’m not inside the house. It’s closed, it’s locked. I can’t go in, but I see them laying… she’s laying down on the floor from the window.”

Gene and Betsy’s final moments

As investigations continue about what happened to Gene and Betsy and their pet dog, mystery shrouds the pair’s final moments and what exactly happened in their home.

In tragic scenes, 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.

Cops fear Gene had a ‘sudden fall’

New details continue to emerge about the scene when police arrived on the property.

When police arrived on site, the report noted that they had “observed a pair of feet and legs on the ground near the kitchen area”. On inspection, they discovered it was Gene’s body.

The report further reads: “The deceased male who was found wearing grey sweat pants, a blue in colour long-sleeve t-shirt, brown slippers, and walking-cane.” It was also revealed that Deputy Thomas noticed a pair of sunglasses located near the decedent’s left of his body.

Item found near Betsy’s body puzzles police

Betsy was found in a bathroom of the property, with her deceased dog in a nearby closet.

Now more details have emerged about the house on the police’s arrival. A black heater was found near Arakawa’s head, with the report stating: “He advised he suspected the heater could have fallen in the event the female abruptly fell to the ground.” The office also “advised he also observed an orange prescription bottle on the counter-top near the deceased female. The prescription bottle appeared opened with pills scattered on the counter-top”.

Gene Hackman’s daughters seen for the first time

Gene Hackman’s daughters have been seen for the first time following his death.

His daughter Leslie said she hadn’t spoken to either Gene or Betsy for a few months but they were close. She said: “We were close. I hadn’t talked to them for a couple months, but everything was normal and everything was good.”

The pair are planning to head to Santa Fe soon when they get more information from the police.

“We need to wait and find out whatever information from the police. We weren’t expecting to have to go out there and go through the house and all that. So we have some work cut out for us. But yeah, we’ll be going out to New Mexico,” she said.

Open door at Gene’s property puzzles cops

It has been revealed that the front door of Gene and Betsy’s home was ajar – but cops maintain there was no sign of forced entry.

A further investigation at the property revealed that the foor was slightly open and one of the dogs were in the garden. There is currently no specific explanation for the door beiong open, but one of the dogs were found in the garden and it could have been that their pet forced their way out.

The Mirror heads to the scene

The Mirror’s Tom Bryant has travellled to Santa Fe, New Mexico – where the home of Gene and Betsy sits.

He describes the neighbourhood with the “vast slab of New Mexican sky offers little in the way of stars to guide the way”.

Writing about Gene’s home, and now the place where both Gene, Betsy and their dog lost their lives, he shares: “But it’s here – in splendid seclusion – that Gene Hackman has called home for 20 years after quitting Hollywood. You can see the attraction for a man who was left frazzled by the industry, and wanted to recharge his soul.

“Eerily quiet with very little through traffic, the sprawling property nestled in 12 acres offers total isolation.”

Police concerned Gene may have fallen

New details have continued to emerge about the scene in the house when police arrived after a welfare call from a maintenance worker.

When police arrived, they had “observed a pair of feet and legs on the ground near the kitchen area” which they found to be Hackman.

911 call in full

A male maintenance worker found the bodies of Gene and his wife and made a frantic call to the police.

The individual’s name was redacted but he said that he found “two, or one deceased” bodies at the Santa Fe address. The man could be heard saying: “Damn, damn, damn,” while sniffing through tears.

Gene and Betsy’s last confirmed contact revealed

Tributes continue to flood in as mystery deepens

Mystery continues to surround the death of Gene, his wife Betsy and one of their dogs.

However, tributes have continued to flood in for Gene and Betsy including director Francis Ford Coppola, who wrote: “The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity, I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.”

In his own tribute, actor and director Clint Eastwood said: “There was no finer actor than Gene. Intense and instinctive. Never a false note. He was also a dear friend whom I will miss very much.”

Gene Hackman’s daughter lifts the lid on his ‘wonderful marriage’ with Betsy

Gene Hackman’s daughter Leslie has gushed about his “wonderful marriage” with musician Betsy Arakawa.

The couple, and their dog, were found dead at their home on Wednesday afternoon and police said there were no apparent signs of foul play. The search warrant executed by cops attending the scene has now been released which lays bare a number of mysteries, including if Gene, 95, fell.

He had been married to Betsy, a classical pianist, since 1991. Betsy was Gene’s second wife, after a three-decade marriage to bank clerk Faye Maltese ended in 1986. He had three children with Faye, including Leslie, who paid tribute to her father on Thursday.

All the troubling unanswered questions baffling cops in Hackman investigation

The full extent of the police investigation into the mysterious deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife can be revealed for the first time – and the troubling questions facing cops.

The search warrant executed by cops attending the scene has now been released which lays bare a number of mysteries. Firefighters underwent testing to determine if there were signs of a possible carbon monoxide leak (or poisoning), a tragedy which has earned the eerie nickname of the “stealth assassin” over the years.

The probe continues in Santa Fe, New Mexico – as Hollywood mourns a megastar who won two Oscars, two BAFTAs and four Golden Globe Awards in an illustrious career which spanned four decades.

All the troubling unanswered questions baffling cops in Hackman investigation

Gene Hackman appeared to have fallen

A dead German shepherd was found in a bathroom closet near Arakawa, police said. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said during a press conference Thursday that the dog was found in a kennel. Two healthy dogs were found on the property — one inside and one outside.

“There was no indication of a struggle,” Mendoza said. “There was no indication of anything that was missing from the home or disturbed, you know, that would be indication that there was a crime that had occurred.”

Results of autopsies conducted on both bodies are not available yet, sheriff’s officials said, noting that carbon monoxide and toxicology test results are pending.

The search warrant affidavit suggests that police appear to have a working theory that “some kind of gas poisoning” happened, but that they don’t know yet and aren’t ruling anything out, Loyola Marymount University law professor Laurie Levenson said.

“They don’t have clear evidence that it’s any type of homicide, but they’re asking for blunt instruments or other weapons that could be used,” said Levenson, who has no connection to the investigation. “It doesn’t also look like some kind of planned double-suicide.”

William & Mary Law School professor Jeffrey Bellin said the request for a search warrant was somewhat unusual because investigators who file one usually believe a specific crime was committed. In this case, no alleged crime was mentioned, Bellin said.

Police tend to overstate what they know, but this is the opposite, said Bellin, who also isn’t tied to the investigation.

Inside 911 call as Gene Hackman’s body is found

According to the search warrant affidavit, a maintenance worker reported that the home’s front door was open when he arrived to do routine work Wednesday, and he called police after finding the bodies.

But in a 911 call, the maintenance worker said he was unable to get inside when the operator asked whether the people in the house were breathing.

“I have no idea,” the subdivision’s caretaker said. “I am not inside the house. It’s closed. It’s locked. I can’t go in. But I can see she’s laying down on the floor from the window.”

Warning signs of carbon monoxide poisoning exposed after Hollywood tragedy

Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were feared to have suffered carbon monoxide poisoning at their home – and it has earned the eerie nickname of the “stealth assassin” over the years.

Unlike natural gas, carbon monoxide (CO) is colourless, odorless, and tasteless, making it impossible to detect without a specialised device. Inhaling it, from various sources including generators, water heaters, and gas stoves, can prove fatal within minutes.

Gene and Betsy, who tied the knot nearly 34 years ago, were discovered dead on Wednesday afternoon local time. The Oscar winner, aged 95, has been remembered by stars such as Piers Morgan, Lorraine Kelly, and George Takei.

Gene Hackman’s autopsy findings after being found ‘mummified’

Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa showed no signs of ‘trauma’ during an autopsy.

The couple and their beloved German Shepherd dog were discovered at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, by two maintenance workers. Currently, there is an active investigation surrounding their death but there are no signs of any foul play. Betsy was found lying on their bathroom floor with an open bottle of prescription pills scattered across a countertop. Currently, it remains unclear what the pills were and if they had been prescribed to Betsy or Gene. Meanwhile, Gene was found in a mud room off their kitchen.

Betsy, 63, was found decomposing with bloating to her face and mummification on her hands and feed. Meanwhile, Gene was found in a similar state of decomposition. An autopsy has since been carried out which ruled out any external trauma to both the actor and his late wife.

Grim details inside Gene Hackman’s secluded Santa Fe mansion where he was found ‘mummified’

Grim details from inside the home of Academy Award winner Gene Hackman has been revealed after he was found dead alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog at their Santa Fe mansion. The couple, who have been married for 34 years, were found partially-mummified at their home, with pills strewn in their bathroom.

An arrest warrant revealed Betsy, 64, was found decomposed with bloating on her face and mummification in her hands and feet. Mummification occurs when a person’s skin and tissues are preserved after their death.

Sheriffs said Hackman was found to have the same signs of decomposition as his wife, but was found separate to her inside the home. Two maintenance workers called Roland Lowe Begay and Jesse Kesler discovered the bodies of Arakawa and her retired Hollywood star husband at their luxurious million Santa Fe mansion Wednesday at 1:46pm Mountain Time.

Gene Hackman’s daughter breaks silence with harrowing admission after his death

Gene Hackman’s daughter Leslie has broken her silence following her father’s mysterious death.

Gene’s daughter, Leslie, 58, has now broken her silence on his sad death. Leslie said that the family are still processing what happened, before making the harrowing admission that “there was no indication that there was any problem” with her father prior to his death.

“Despite his age, he was in very good physical condition,” she told Mail Online before adding that her father did not have any major surgeries these 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.”

Lesie added that because she lives in California, it had been a ‘few months’ since she had last seen or heard from her father, who had become reclusive in the latter years of his wife. Gene lived a quiet and private life with his wife Betsy, 64. “We were close. I hadn’t talked to them for a couple months, but everything was normal and everything was good,” Leslie shared.

Gene Hackman new mystery as ‘no obvious sign of gas leak’ according to search warrant

The deaths of Gene Hackman, his wife, and their dog have raised numerous questions, with authorities labeling the situation as “suspicious.”

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed the tragic news of their deaths, 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.

However, a search warrant obtained by TMZ has revealed that there are “no clear signs of a gas leak” found at the scene. The warrant has also revealed that a Santa Fe detective, who requested the warrant, expressed concerns about the circumstances surrounding the deaths in his affidavit.

Gene Hackman: Distressing 911 call and chilling one-word response to ‘decomposing’ body

A gut-churning 911 call made after a maintenance worker found Gene Hackman’s body has been shared.

Betsy, 63, was found decomposing with bloating to her face and mummification on her hands and feet. Hackman was found in a similar stage of decomposition and his wife. One of the male maintenance workers who found Gene and his wife Betsy made a frantic call to the emergency services. In the call, he was heard saying that the legendary actor and his wife were not moving. The individual whose name was redacted said that he found “two, or one deceased” bodies at the Santa Fe, New Mexico home.

He instantly went on to share the address of the home and told the 911 call operator that he would meet the emergency staff at the gate to the property. As the call operator issued a message to paramedics, the man making the call said: “Damn, damn, damn,” while sniffing through tears.

The individual who discovered Gene and Betsy was unsure of the gender or ages of the patients. He added that there was no sign of movement at the home. “Just send somebody up here quick,” he added. When asked if the patients were breathing or awake, he responded: “I have no idea, I have no idea, I’m not inside the house, it’s closed. I see she’s laying down on the floor.”

Gene Hackman’s beloved dog found dead in a closet in heartbreaking update

Gene Hackman’s dead dog was found meters away from his and his wife’s partially mummified body.

Betsy, 63, was found decomposing with bloating to her face and mummification on her hands and feet. Hackman was found in a similar stage of decomposition and his wife. Mummification takes place when an individuals skin and tissues are persevered following their death. Although it’s synonymous with Ancient Egypt and bandages, it can also take place if a body is left in a cold, drug area, allowing bacteria to grow.

Santa Fe, where they lived, is known for its colder climates during the winter months. Initial reports suggested that the German Shepherd was discovered in a kennel but the heartbreaking reality is very different. Their beloved dog was found just 10 to 15 feet away from Betsy, in a closet just off of their bathroom.

Betsy was found lying on their bathroom floor with an open bottle of prescription pills scattered across a countertop. Currently, it remains unclear what the pills were and if they had been prescribed to Betsy or Gene. Meanwhile, Gene was found in a mud room off their kitchen. Two of their dogs survived the tragedy.

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s death investigation being assisted by gas company

A gas company is collaborating with investigators in the ongoing probe into the deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, following reports that carbon monoxide poisoning may have been involved.

Hackman’s body was discovered in a mudroom, while Arakawa was found near a space heater in the bathroom, as detailed in a search warrant issued by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.

Police have ruled out foul play at this stage, with spokeswoman Denise Avila confirming there were no signs of gunshots or other injuries to the couple. New Mexico Gas Company is assisting in the investigation, according to a statement from company spokesperson Tim Korte.

Who was Gene Hackman’s wife Betsy Arakawa who was famous in her own right

Gene Hackman was found dead with his wife Betsy Arakawa and their pet dog in their New Mexico home, according to Santa Fe police.

While the details of Betsy and Gene’s deaths have not yet been released in the “preliminary death investigation,” the couple seemed incredibly close in in the years leading up to their tragic passing.

Gene retired from acting in 2008, and while he hasn’t been seen in front of the camera for decades he was occasionally spotted out in New Mexico with his wife, going out for meals or attending cultural events.

Betsy was Gene’s second wife, after he married Faye Maltese in 1956. Gene and Faye went on to have a son and two daughters, but ultimately divorced in 1986. Some rumours suggest that Gene and Betsy started dating while he was still in his first marriage with Faye, and while the actor has remained tight-lipped on the subject he did suggest that suggestions he only moved onto Betsy because of her young age were wrong.

“By the way, I did not leave my real-life wife for a younger woman. We just drifted apart. We lost sight of each other. When you work in this business, marriage takes a great deal of work and love,” he once said, according to People.

Gene Hackman’s and Betsy Arakawa’s age-gap marriage and truth behind first divorce

Legendary actor Gene Hackman lived a quiet life with his wife Betsy of 24 years.

Hackman had a successful career that spanned more than six decades, where he won a number of gongs including two Academy Awards. He became a household name in 1970s for films like The Conversation, Superman, and Hoosiers. In the early 2000s, following his last acting role in Welcome to Mooseport (2004), he stepped out of he spotlight and opted for a more reclusive life with his wife, who was 32 years his junior.

Besty, 63, was Hackman’s second wife and they reportedly started dating in the mid-80s after meeting in the gym and falling in love. He was married to his first wife, Faye Maltese, between 1956 and 1986. A year before their split, he denied leaving Faye for Betsy, and said: “By the way, I did not leave my real-life wife for a younger woman. We just drifted apart. We lost sight of each other. When you work in this business, marriage takes a great deal of work and love.”

In 1990, the same year he underwent surgery for congestive heart failure, Hackman and Betsy moved into a home together in Santa Fe, New Mexico. A year later, they tied the knot. In 2008, he announced his retirement and said: “I haven’t held a press conference to announce retirement, but yes, I’m not going to act any longer. I really don’t want to do it any longer.”

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.

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.”

Prince William shares moving tribute to ‘genius’ Gene Hackman after tragic death

Prince William has branded Gene Hackman a “true genius” in a moving tribite.

The Prince of Wales has said he is “so sad” to hear of the death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy, who were found dead in their Santa Fe home in New Mexico along with their dog on Wednesday afternoon.

In a post signed with a “W”, to his shared X account with the Princess of Wales, he said: “So sad to hear the news of the death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy. Hackman was a true genius of film who brought each and every character to life with power, authenticity and star quality.”

Cops’ chilling two words reveal where bodies were found in huge update

The mystery surrounding the deaths of Hollywood legend Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa has intensified with fresh details coming to light. The New York Times reveals that the couple’s bodies were discovered in separate rooms, leading a sheriff involved in the investigation to describe their deaths as ‘not typical’.

One of their dogs was found deceased in a kennel, while two others survived, according to the American publication. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated there was no suicide note and no evident signs of trauma on their bodies. “At this stage in the process there isn’t anything obvious like that,” he said. “The autopsy is going to tell us more.”

Before officers entered the property, safety checks were conducted by the fire department and the gas company, the sheriff’s department confirmed. Sheriff Mendoza added: “We’re not going to guess this was an accident or natural causes. It wasn’t typical.” As the mystery deepens, movie fans worldwide are speculating about what could have transpired in the couple’s New Mexico residence. Despite the ongoing intense police investigation, officers have reported no indications of foul play.

Sheriff Mendoza reassured: “I want to assure the community and neighbourhood that there’s no immediate danger to anyone.” The family think Hackman and his wife may have succumbed to toxic fumes. The actor’s daughter, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, said she remains unsure as to the cause of death.

Yet she thinks the cause might be from such gases as carbon monoxide. Tragedy struck in the Hyde Park area of Santa Fe, New Mexico, as deputies discovered the body of the celebrated star on Wednesday afternoon. The beloved actor had retreated from the glam of Hollywood to this corner of the world since the early 2000s.

Gene Hackman’s mysterious spiral into recluse life with wife and last frail outing

Once one of Hollywood’s leading men, Gene Hackman’s final years were a far cry from the red carpet premieres of his youth.

The Oscar winner, who has died at the age of 95, preferred a quiet life with his second wife, the classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, following his retirement from the silver screen in 2004. Tragically, the couple were found dead yesterday (Wednesday, February 26), along with their beloved pet dog, at their home on Sunset Trail, New Mexico.

An active investigation is now underway, but Santa Fe County police has confirmed that they do not believe that foul play was a factor at this time. Gene and Betsy, 63, reportedly fell in love after crossing paths at an LA gym in the ’80s, where Betsy had been working part-time.

They went on to tie the knot in 1991, with Betsy becoming stepmother to Gene’s three children, Christopher Allen, Leslie Anne and Elizabeth Jean, born during his first marriage to Faye Maltese. Although California-born Gene preferred to keep the details of his marriage private, he did previously speak up for Betsy amid rumours that their relationship had led to his divorce.

Speaking with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Gene clarified: “By the way, I did not leave my real-life wife for a younger woman. We just drifted apart. We lost sight of each other. When you work in this business, marriage takes a great deal of work and love.”

In 2020, Gene also offered a sweet insight into their low-key weekend rituals, telling Empire magazine: “We like simple stories that some of the little low-budget films manage to produce. Friday night is set aside for a Comedy Channel marathon with particular attention paid to Eddie Izzard. The speed of thought is amazing.”

The pair eschewed the spotlight, preferring to spend time with each other and their pets rather than attend glitzy A-list bashes. In this regard, Santa Fe proved to be the perfect place for the famous couple to set up home together. As Gene told the Irish Independent in 2000: “Where we live, in Sante Fe, you can lead your own life and not be bothered by the latest gossip.”

Gene Hackman and wife’s deaths branded ‘suspicious’ by cops in search warrant

Gene Hackman and his wife’s deaths alongside their beloved dog have been branded “suspicious” according to authorities, it has been reported.

The Oscar-winning actor, 95, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their beloved dog were tragically found dead in their home in New Mexico just after midnight on Thursday. The police have said it is currently an active investigation but they do not believe that foul play was a factor at this time.

Police have since requested a search warrant for the Santa Fe home. According to Sheriff Adan Mendoza, the couple died around midnight on Thursday 27 February and told The Santa Fe New Mexican : “I want to assure the community and neighbourhood that there’s no immediate danger to anyone.”

And in the search warrant, obtained by TMZ, the detective who asked for the search warrant has written in his affadavit that he thinks that “the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation because 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.”