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.

The legendary Hollywood actor and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead at their home in New Mexico on Wednesday, February 26. Adan Mendoza, the sheriff of Santa Fe County, confirmed the tragic news, revealing the couple’s dog had died shortly after midnight.

The police stated that the investigation is still ongoing, but they don’t think foul play is a factor. Two additional surviving dogs, according to them, were discovered nearby. Some members of his family believe carbon monoxide poisoning may be the cause of their deaths, despite the investigation still being under way.

Read more about Gene Hackman’s tragic passing and wife Betsy Arakawa’s passing on the Mirror’s live blog HERE.

The Santa Fe County Sheriff in New Mexico stated in a statement that an “active investigation” was being conducted that included Gene Hackman and his wife, who were both found dead on Wednesday afternoon at their home on Sunset Trail. Although there is still work being done, we do not believe foul play was a factor at this time.

Gene’s daughter, Leslie, 58, has now broken her silence on his sad death. Before making the heartbreaking claim that “there was no indication that there was any problem” with her father prior to his death, Leslie claimed that the family is still processing what happened.

Before mentioning that her father had not undergone any major surgeries these past few months, she told Mail Online, “Despite his age, he was very well physically ..” He continued to practice yoga and Pilates several times per week. So he was in good health”.

It had taken her father a “fifth of a few months” to finally hear from her, who had become distant in his wife’s later years, according to Lesie. With his 64-year-old wife Betsy, Gene led a quiet and 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.

Gene and his wife Betsy were found partially-mummified at the couple’s mansion, with pills strewn in their bathroom, reports have claimed. Arakawa, 64, was discovered with bloating on her face and mummification in her hands and feet, according to an arrest warrant. Sheriffs claimed Hollywood actor Hackman also displayed the same signs of decomposition as his wife, according to the warrant, which was obtained by Mail Online.

On Wednesday afternoon, two maintenance workers, Roland Lowe Begay and Jesse Kesler, arrived at a sprawling Santa Fe estate only to discover the woman’s bodies, those of Arakawa and her ex-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. The scene’s newly revealed details may help explain why the information was initially withheld.

Begay and Kesler say neither of them had seen the pair in the previous two weeks. They were believed to have been deceased for some time before their discovery, according to evidence.

Arakawa was found on the bathroom floor, close to a prescription bottle that had pills strewn across the counter. Arakawa or her husband, as the officials have yet to disclose the type of medication that was present.

Investigators are weighing the possibility that a space heater had fallen from her head. 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 incorrectly stated that the dog had passed away 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. No indications of forced entry were found at the front door, despite what investigators reported. 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.

With wife Betsy and their cherished German Shepherd dogs, Hackman chose to hide from the public in his later years. The actor was seen carrying an apple pie and coffee from a 7-Eleven store while appearing frail.

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Source: Mirror