Gene Hackman dead at 95: Iconic actor and wife, 63, are found dead with their dog at Santa Fe home. #2

[friendlysleuther]

I have compiled

1. Initial News Release | February 27th at 4:52PM EST.
2. Search Warrant Affidavit | February 27, 2025 – 07:25:33 (filed date/ time)
3. Press Conference | February 27th, 2024 / TRANSCRIPT
4. Press Conference | February 28th, 2024 –3:00PM /TRANSCRIPT

into a PDF file, that I will link below.

Additionally,

This is where a layout of the house would be really helpful.

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Layout of the home [Source]​

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Interior photos of the home​

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I'll add these to the document and get a transcript of the 911 call here, soon

 

[Austin023]

I think this is possible. Perhaps he was feeling unwell. B didn’t think it was an immediate danger, and she was off to get his medication. But whatever happened to her, happened, leaving G, without any assistance. He either fell and was unable to get up, or his heart condition was more serious than either realised.

Of course, I don’t know much about the medication found. So this may not fit with the reality of that medication.

The dog, I believe, is almost a red herring. For whatever reason, it was in a crate and therefore unable to access resources once its owners had both passed away. Truly heartbreaking and something I don’t want to spend much time thinking about tbh.

It is unlikely to the point of being almost unrealistic. But we have two deceased people within the same time frame, so it just may have happened.

I agree. Something along those lines I would think would be a pretty reasonable theory.

 

[Gemmie]

I have compiled

1. Initial News Release | February 27th at 4:52PM EST.
2. Search Warrant Affidavit | February 27, 2025 – 07:25:33 (filed date/ time)
3. Press Conference | February 27th, 2024 / TRANSCRIPT
4. Press Conference | February 28th, 2024 –3:00PM /TRANSCRIPT

into a PDF file, that I will link below.
I figure, this may help everyone easily read all info, search document, etc (-:

If I didn't get something correct, or if you'd like the separate documents, or if you'd like for me to add on something, --just let me know.

FYI that your second link doesn't work and you have some time to edit/correct your post. And yes, I know I can access the compiled doc.

 

[debirlfan]

I'm going to speculate.
Dog crated in bathroom because it has accidents that are easier to clean up on tile floor. Space heater is probably electric (can't picture rich people using kerosene.) Given the warm climate, heater is likely only used when someone is in tub/shower.
Gene is up and at 'em first. Maybe lets the dogs out, maybe gets the paper or just some fresh air. Wife gets up to start day. Showers, brushes teeth, takes daily meds.
At this point, one of two things happen. Either the electric heater gets knocked into the sink and she grabs for it, or there's water on the floor and a bare wire ((dog chewed?) going to the heater and she steps in the water. In any event, she's electrocuted and falls.
Gene hears the crash, calls out and she doesn't respond. He leaves door partly open, rushes to get to her, and falls.
Crated dog sadly starves. Given the weather there, the water would have evaporated before they found the bodies. Thoughts?

 

[STAGNUM]

I have those questions, too. I do recall a case years ago where an elderly woman was found dead and it ultimately had something to do with her handyman aggressively demanding supposed back payment for a job.

The fact that both adults and a dog were all found dead, no carbon monoxide poisoning, the door ajar-- all just intuitively feels amiss.

I want to correct something here. No doors were ajar. The reporting parties, Roland B and Jessie K, did not make entry. They waited for the police who found a main door was actually unlocked, and then found BA and GH in that order.

 

[al66pine]

From @CityKid #1104 in last thread:*
"My bf lived in SF for a few years.... He said especially in winter, mice/rats are a problem, especially with eating car wiring. Perhaps that's what they were treating for. MOO

Post 1104:
Gene Hackman dead at 95: Iconic actor and wife, 63, are found dead with their dog at Santa Fe home.

___________________________________
sbm @CityKid Yep, mice & rabbits chew thru automotive wiring, quite common in the area. Even serpentine belts, esp'ly w cars parked outside overnight. Don't ask me how I know.
====================================
From Post #1104, by @CityKid Re Hackman buying art supplies. : "My bf lived in SF for a few years (even sold art supplies to Gene and Betsy on a number of occasions)...."
___________________________________
sbm @CityKid Maybe Artisan Santa Fe since 1975, on Cerillos Road, by chance? Funny bit about Georgia O'Keeffe writing a check at that store, now w framed original hanging over register.

https://www.artisansantafe.com/georgia-okeeffe-artisan/]

 

[bmacmillan1]

I'm going to speculate.
Dog crated in bathroom because it has accidents that are easier to clean up on tile floor. Space heater is probably electric (can't picture rich people using kerosene.) Given the warm climate, heater is likely only used when someone is in tub/shower.
Gene is up and at 'em first. Maybe lets the dogs out, maybe gets the paper or just some fresh air. Wife gets up to start day. Showers, brushes teeth, takes daily meds.
At this point, one of two things happen. Either the electric heater gets knocked into the sink and she grabs for it, or there's water on the floor and a bare wire ((dog chewed?) going to the heater and she steps in the water. In any event, she's electrocuted and falls.
Gene hears the crash, calls out and she doesn't respond. He leaves door partly open, rushes to get to her, and falls.
Crated dog sadly starves. Given the weather there, the water would have evaporated before they found the bodies. Thoughts?

Wouldn't there be signs if she was electrocuted?

 

[Snoop Sister]

I'm going to speculate.
Dog crated in bathroom because it has accidents that are easier to clean up on tile floor. Space heater is probably electric (can't picture rich people using kerosene.) Given the warm climate, heater is likely only used when someone is in tub/shower.
Gene is up and at 'em first. Maybe lets the dogs out, maybe gets the paper or just some fresh air. Wife gets up to start day. Showers, brushes teeth, takes daily meds.
At this point, one of two things happen. Either the electric heater gets knocked into the sink and she grabs for it, or there's water on the floor and a bare wire ((dog chewed?) going to the heater and she steps in the water. In any event, she's electrocuted and falls.
Gene hears the crash, calls out and she doesn't respond. He leaves door partly open, rushes to get to her, and falls.
Crated dog sadly starves. Given the weather there, the water would have evaporated before they found the bodies. Thoughts?

Plausible, but the Chief of Police indicated that at this time the space heater was not part of the investigation, on the recent presser previously posted.

 

[pentimento]

Maybe I've been watching too many old episodes of Columbo lately, but I suspect the pills were staged and possibly some other things. I don't think this was a crude burglary, but something else, someone who knew them and their habits and their dogs. Just my suspicions until more information comes out.

 

[CityKid]

From @CityKid #1104 in last thread:*
"My bf lived in SF for a few years.... He said especially in winter, mice/rats are a problem, especially with eating car wiring. Perhaps that's what they were treating for. MOO

Yep, mice & rabbits chew thru automotive wiring, quite common in the area. Even serpentine belts, esp'ly w cars parked outside overnight. Don't ask me how I know.

Post 1104:
Gene Hackman dead at 95: Iconic actor and wife, 63, are found dead with their dog at Santa Fe home.

Re Hackman buying art supplies. @CityKid: "My bf lived in SF for a few years (even sold art supplies to Gene and Betsy on a number of occasions)...."
Maybe Artisan Santa Fe since 1975, on Cerillos Road, by chance? Funny bit about Georgia O'Keeffe writing a check at that store, now w framed original hanging over register.

And Delphino the snake in the back! We're back in NYC, where we're from, but I really fell in love with SF over multiple visits.

https://www.artisansantafe.com/georgia-okeeffe-artisan/]

 

[Cedars]

Perhaps their cell reception wasn't great and he knew where the hotspots where and was headed there.

Adrenaline and determination might have gotten him further than when his life wasn't upside down.

All JMO.

As others have mentioned, if you have poor cell coverage you usually use Wifi.

I'm going to speculate.
Dog crated in bathroom because it has accidents that are easier to clean up on tile floor. Space heater is probably electric (can't picture rich people using kerosene.) Given the warm climate, heater is likely only used when someone is in tub/shower.
Gene is up and at 'em first. Maybe lets the dogs out, maybe gets the paper or just some fresh air. Wife gets up to start day. Showers, brushes teeth, takes daily meds.
At this point, one of two things happen. Either the electric heater gets knocked into the sink and she grabs for it, or there's water on the floor and a bare wire ((dog chewed?) going to the heater and she steps in the water. In any event, she's electrocuted and falls.
Gene hears the crash, calls out and she doesn't respond. He leaves door partly open, rushes to get to her, and falls.
Crated dog sadly starves. Given the weather there, the water would have evaporated before they found the bodies. Thoughts?

Good idea with the potential electrocution, hadn't considered that.

 

[STAGNUM]

Perhaps their cell reception wasn't great and he knew where the hotspots where and was headed there.

Adrenaline and determination might have gotten him further than when his life wasn't upside down.

All JMO.

The reporting party Roland B used a cellphone at the house, outside, to call 911, and did mention that the call may get disconnected as he headed to the gate/main road. However the cell service was fairly reliable from beginning to end, the worst being at the main gate. Assuming that GH and BA had same cell service, and perhaps even a landline, it is inconceivable that one of them had a medical event and the other succumbed later, without calling for help.

My theory rests on them dying within minutes of each other. Carbon Monoxide would be an obvious cause, however in light of none detected in the initial tests, the possibility that <modsnip> fumigated the house for pests in day(s) prior to Feb 17th raises a possibility.

Pest control is not limited to setting poison traps for rodents. It includes fumigation of wood boring insects with chemicals and even in some cases tenting the structure and introducing a deadly gas. I had a house tented in Florida and can assure you, that you do not want to go inside the tent. We stayed at the beach for three days. There have been several cases where vacationers have succumbed to pest fumigation at resorts where tenting was not used and areas adjacent to the room were fumigated.

 

[Inobu]

There are just too many inconsistencies both in the events and word usage.

Grounds keeper verses Maintenance Worker verses Caretaker. Each are different job function.

The 911 call and the reporting nature. Specific detail then I don't know this Looking through the window.

Neighbor makes welfare call to police. What prompted that?

Two people and 3 dogs 2 people and 1 dog dead. 2 dogs walking around the home.

Front door open and "unsecured"

Space heater in bathroom. Was it on or off.

Pills scattered about.
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They need to do an autopsy on the dog.......

 

[Let’s Bagel]

Definitely not suicide.
Unless those pills were something like cyanide (and they weren't), she wouldn't have dropped dead or even just collapsed after taking them.
And I don't believe in her grief she would leave him on the floor to rot. She would want to see him given the send-off he deserved, and if she did feel she couldn't go on, that would come later.
And she wouldn't have left the dog to die.

Agreed. Occam's razor for me is that she died suddenly from a medical event of some kind and he subsequently died after falling (for whatever reason). They seemed to be huge dog lovers. Dog lovers would never intentionally lock a dog in a crate to die.

 

[Gemmie]

A short clip on Hackman's legacy and life. Things I didn't know like he was a race car driver, and an avid diver, among other things. Also tidbits about his life from young to old.

 

[debirlfan]

Good idea with the potential electrocution, hadn't considered that.

Occurred to me in the middle of the night. Given the amount of decomp and 'mummification' of the hands, electrocution might not be immediately obvious. Between that and any water being evaporated, the heater would initially appear unrelated.

 

[formerreddingrunner]

Definitely not suicide.
Unless those pills were something like cyanide (and they weren't), she wouldn't have dropped dead or even just collapsed after taking them.
And I don't believe in her grief she would leave him on the floor to rot. She would want to see him given the send-off he deserved, and if she did feel she couldn't go on, that would come later.
And she wouldn't have left the dog to die.

I just can't accept the suicide (from Betsy) theory. Even though this is a very popular theory on the internet. And Gene doesn't look like suicide either. With his sunglasses on - or on the floor next to him - it clearly looks like a fall. Now, what caused Gene's fall: was it a cardiac event? Hopefully, the autopsy will bring some clues.

Too bad they are saying that it wasn't CO poisoning? Because it certainly looks like it to me. That's how they could both be overcome. The dog's death is the red herring. He could've died just from neglect - namely dehydration - not anything to do with Gene and Betsy's demise.

 

[Cedars]

I want to correct something here. No doors were ajar. The reporting parties, Roland B and Jessie K, did not make entry. They waited for the police who found a main door was actually unlocked

No, the search warrant narrative states precisely that the callers told the deputies they had found the door "opened/ajar", the deputies themselves found the door "ajar".

Please cite something to back up that the search warrant is not the true facts.

 

[formerreddingrunner]

The dog, I believe, is almost a red herring.

Hah! We just came to the same conclusion.

 

[BrianJohnson]

Maybe I've been watching too many old episodes of Columbo lately, but I suspect the pills were staged and possibly some other things. I don't think this was a crude burglary, but something else, someone who knew them and their habits and their dogs. Just my suspicions until more information comes out.

But why would anyone bother bumping off a 95yo man? it is highly unlikely he had any drug debts or involved in any dodgy activities, he lead a very reclusive life and likely had no enemies

If nothing was stolen as police said why would someone go through the trouble of killing a 95yo man

The only one who might have got past the dogs/compound cctv to get in the house and kill Gene/wife would be the security guard or the maintenance guy, why would they want to kill a 95yo?

<modsnip>