By The Big Magazine Staff
According to a search warrant affidavit released Thursday morning, Variety reports that police are now describing the deaths of Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 64, in their New Mexico home on February 26 as "suspicious."
Although investigators initially stated there was no immediate evidence of foul play, the official cause of death has yet to be determined.
The cadaver's were found by two maintenance workers that work for the Hackman in different rooms of their $3.3 million home. Arakawa was lying on the bathroom floor. An orange prescription pill bottle was open on the countertop, with pills scattered nearby. Hackman was discovered in the mud room, adjacent to the kitchen. The report states that Hackman may have dies suddenly because they found his sunglasses by his side.
A dead dog was discovered in the bathroom closet, close to Arakawa's body. Additionally, two healthy dogs were located on the property—one was near Arakawa and the other was roaming freely outside. The house's front door was ajar, but investigators claim there were no indications of forced entry.
The fire department and the gas company were called out to check for a natural gas leak, which could cause carbon monoxide poisoning. They did not detect anything, and there were “no obvious signs of a gas leak,”
At 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Judge John Rysanek from the Santa Fe County Magistrate Court authorized the search warrant. The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office is keeping all options open as the case is still under investigation.
Gene Hackman's career began in television, and his breakthrough came in 1967 when he played Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde, earning his first Oscar nomination. He became one of Hollywood's most in demand actors in the 70s, starring in multiple films, including The Poseidon Adventure, Scarecrow, Young Frankenstein, Lex Luthor in Superman, and The Birdcage.
Many celebrities have paid tribute to via social media including, Morgan Freeman, Director Francis Ford Coppola, actor Viola Davis, Clint Eastwood, and Antonio Banderas, to name a few.
Authorities have not verified any toxicology reports or external factors.
Our thoughts go out to the Hackman family and friends during this difficult time.
Follow us on Instagram @TheBigMagazine
Comments