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

[Sunshynn]

Okay, thank u!!!

you found that so fast!

What do you think is the significance - if anything - of the front door being open/ajar? Is this significant? Or is this possibly a red herring?

I'm 50/50. I could see it going either way.

Ah! You're welcome!

I don't know what to think, honestly.

I don't know if the 2 dogs going in and out could have knocked open an unlocked door or, after 2 weeks + that wind or whatever may have knocked it open.

Or, if the caretaker who made the 911 call, figured out that he could go in and left the door ajar when he figured out that they were both deceased.

Idk - MOO.

 

[JDG]

I believe he was letting them out also. Yes, there is a dogie door but pet owners still enjoy taking there animals out.

I agree.

There may also be critters out there that would be food for the dogs plus a water supply in a pond, stream or whatever.

They had 12 acres, or a portion of that, to run about in.

Domesticated dogs are not far removed from Coyotes, so would be able to live off the land so to speak.

 

[Cardgame]

Is there another press conference schedule for today? Or is this Mirror article misleading?

Gene Hackman dead: Everything we know as Oscars pays emotional tribute to actor

Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and one of their dogs were found dead at their Santa Fe home last week

www.mirror.co.uk

 

[priyaya]

But the search warrant states that it was the Front door that the detective found to be open.

From the search warrant (bbm):
"..When Deputy Thomas and Barron arrived, Deputy Thomas indicated he spoke to two individuals (one of which was the reporting party) who found and located the front door of the residence (1425 Old Sunset Trail) to be open/ajar....Deputy Thomas told Affiant after speaking to two males he and Deputy Barron then walked to the front of the residence and found the front door ajar. He advised he did not observe any signs of forced entry into the home."

thank you for clarifying that.

 

[Izzylizzy]

Is there another press conference schedule for today? Or is this Mirror article misleading?

Gene Hackman dead: Everything we know as Oscars pays emotional tribute to actor

Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and one of their dogs were found dead at their Santa Fe home last week

www.mirror.co.uk

An old link,

"It has been confirmed that a press conference will be given today after the death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arawaka.

The Santa Fe Police Department will hold a press conference at 3pm local time on Friday February 28th, which will be at 10pm UK time, at the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office following a day of investigations.'

 

[priyaya]

thank you! Here’s a screenshot of (what I believe to be) LE walking into the back of the home

View attachment 567822View attachment 567823

Helicopter footage of the Hackman home. There’s some zoomed-in shots showing close ups of different areas around the home.

Sky 7 flies over home where Gene Hackman and wife were found dead

Sky 7 is over-head of the home of actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa in Santa Fe County.

www.koat.com

made sure no one was seening inside that house from the outside

 

[LaborDayRN]

I believe he was letting them out also. Yes, there is a dogie door but pet owners still enjoy taking there animals out.

The doggie door does make me wonder. Does anyone know if they were open or closed?
With dogs the size of German Shepherds, The doggie doors would have had to be rather large ones. I could see a small person being able to squeeze in.

 

[formerreddingrunner]

I agree.

There may also be critters out there that would be food for the dogs plus a water supply in a pond, stream or whatever.

They had 12 acres, or a portion of that, to run about in.

Domesticated dogs are not far removed from Coyotes, so would be able to live off the land so to speak.

I've not seen any mention of this - so this is pure speculation on my part - but I wonder if Betsy and Gene had any automatic feeders.

Amazon.com

 

[BrianJohnson]

Still think way too much over thinking in this thread re intruders

I think Gene had a medical episode in that mud room, his wife rushed to get his tablets, disturbed the space heater, space heater knocked her out cold and killed her, I have seen space heaters and especially metal ones landing on the head of a woman in her 60’s would be enough to cause a fatal brain bleed

 

[Cherwell]

Still think way too much over thinking in this thread re intruders

I think Gene had a medical episode in that mud room, his wife rushed to get his tablets, disturbed the space heater, space heater knocked her out cold and killed her, I have seen space heaters and especially metal ones landing on the head of a woman in her 60’s would be enough to cause a fatal brain bleed

I agree that it's vanishingly unlikely that anyone else was involved.

But didn't the Sheriff say that there were no visible signs of an injury from a fall? I think some sudden medical catastrophe took Betsy out, and she just knocked the heater over as she fell. If it had struck her on the head something would probably have been visible. Depends where it hit her and how she was lying, of course.

 

[Bahshudc]

Still think way too much over thinking in this thread re intruders

I think Gene had a medical episode in that mud room, his wife rushed to get his tablets, disturbed the space heater, space heater knocked her out cold and killed her, I have seen space heaters and especially metal ones landing on the head of a woman in her 60’s would be enough to cause a fatal brain bleed

But, in this case, the space heater would have to be placed directly above her head? Like on a shelf or something. It was my understanding it was on the countertop in front of her. MOO

 

[LaborDayRN]

Still think way too much over thinking in this thread re intruders

I think Gene had a medical episode in that mud room, his wife rushed to get his tablets, disturbed the space heater, space heater knocked her out cold and killed her, I have seen space heaters and especially metal ones landing on the head of a woman in her 60’s would be enough to cause a fatal brain bleed

As for the too much overthinking......it's what we do here at WS.

 

[BrianJohnson]

I agree that it's vanishingly unlikely that anyone else was involved.

But didn't the Sheriff say that there were no visible signs of an injury from a fall? I think some sudden medical catastrophe took Betsy out, and she just knocked the heater over as she fell. If it had struck her on the head something would probably have been visible. Depends where it hit her and how she was lying, of course.

There would not have to be any visible external injuries, just internal

Cilla Black died after a fall, no visible injuries on the outside but a blood clot on the brain from the inside

 

[Pseudonymph]

New theory of mine:

1. Gene and Betsy got up in the morning as usual.
2. Their routine was to let the dogs out first (like most dog owners.)
3. Two dogs were not crated or had already been let out of their crates.
4. Betsy went to the bathroom to let the crated dog out.
5. She had a sudden health episode before she could get the dog out.
6. In falling down, perhaps grabbing the counter, she knocked the heater and the pills onto the floor.
7. Gene didn't realize she had collapsed.
8. The dogs were losing their minds because she was being slow, so Gene decided to let them out himself.
9. Because he needed so much physical assistance, letting the dogs out himself might not have been his normal routine without his wife's help.
10. Something caused him to fall (he could even have been knocked down by a hyper dog.)
11. Because of his frailty, it was a fatal fall, either quick or slow.

 

[al66pine]

A Person Using Doggie Door to Enter Home?

....
With dogs the size of German Shepherds, The doggie doors would have had to be rather large ones. I could see a small person being able to squeeze in.

snipped for focus @LaborDayRN

Wait a sec.
If Jodie Arias escaped prison, has she been spotted in northern New Mexico?

_______________________________________
timestamp at 20 - 25 sec.

452 reactions · 109 shares | “She would sneak into his house through the doggie door.” Jodi Arias: An American Murder Mystery, SUNDAY 10/9c on Investigation Discovery. | By Investigation Discovery | Facebook

“She would sneak into his house through the doggie door.” Jodi Arias: An American Murder Mystery, SUNDAY 10/9c on Investigation Discovery.

www.facebook.com

 

[Sunshynn]

New theory of mine:

1. Gene and Betsy got up in the morning as usual.
2. Their routine was to let the dogs out first (like most dog owners.)
3. Two dogs were not crated or had already been let out of their crates.
4. Betsy went to the bathroom to let the crated dog out.
5. She had a sudden health episode before she could get the dog out.
6. In falling down, perhaps grabbing the counter, she knocked the heater and the pills onto the floor.
7. Gene didn't realize she had collapsed.
8. The dogs were losing their minds because she was being slow, so Gene decided to let them out himself.
9. Because he needed so much physical assistance, letting the dogs out himself might not have been his normal routine without his wife's help.
10. Something caused him to fall (he could even have been knocked down by a hyper dog.)
11. Because of his frailty, it was a fatal fall, either quick or slow.

This is close to what I believe happened, as well.
That is why I think it's (somewhat) important to know if the deceased dog was locked in or was able to get in the crate freely when discovered.

 

[BrianJohnson]

New theory of mine:

1. Gene and Betsy got up in the morning as usual.
2. Their routine was to let the dogs out first (like most dog owners.)
3. Two dogs were not crated or had already been let out of their crates.
4. Betsy went to the bathroom to let the crated dog out.
5. She had a sudden health episode before she could get the dog out.
6. In falling down, perhaps grabbing the counter, she knocked the heater and the pills onto the floor.
7. Gene didn't realize she had collapsed.
8. The dogs were losing their minds because she was being slow, so Gene decided to let them out himself.
9. Because he needed so much physical assistance, letting the dogs out himself might not have been his normal routine without his wife's help.
10. Something caused him to fall (he could even have been knocked down by a hyper dog.)
11. Because of his frailty, it was a fatal fall, either quick or slow.

No doubt he was not as sprightly as when younger but I think Gene’s mobility was better than being given credit for here, he used a cane to get around but if he had his sunglasses with him he had clearly been, or was about to, spend time outdoors, he also lived in a sprawling mansion, if his mobility was that bad they would have downsized

I dont doubt his mobility wasn’t great but it would be more than enough to let the dogs out, go looking for her

 

[CityKid]

I believe he was letting them out also. Yes, there is a dogie door but pet owners still enjoy taking there animals out.

According to the first linked story, the sheriff (Adan Mendoza) said "it appears" the dogs had access to a doggie door, but no stories I've seen have stated for a fact that there is a doggie door. I'd be surprised if there was a doggie door large enough for a German shepherd in a region where coyotes and bobcats (both smaller than GSDs) roam freely and people are told to keep pets indoors at night.

Gene Hackman, wife and dog found dead in home under 'suspicious' circumstances; 2 other dogs found alive

The couple was found during a welfare check after their neighbor called in concerned about their well-being.

abcnews.go.com

Cautiously living with coyotes around us

“Coyotes routinely travel throughout the city via acequias, arroyos and other drainages,” said Joe Newton. “They are also the victims of traffic accidents. Coyotes are pragmatic omnivores who will eat

www.santafenewmexican.com

 

[Joe Friday]

No doubt he was not as sprightly as when younger but I think Gene’s mobility was better than being given credit for here, he used a cane to get around but if he had his sunglasses with him he had clearly been, or was about to, spend time outdoors, he also lived in a sprawling mansion, if his mobility was that bad they would have downsized

I dont doubt his mobility wasn’t great but it would be more than enough to let the dogs out, go looking for her

Video of Gene spotted enjoying a stroll, clad in a baseball cap, vest and flannel shirt in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on April 5, 2024 less than a year ago.

Looks to me like he was getting around pretty good then. More recent photos show him with a cane. Not sure how much his mobility would have degraded from last April.

JMO

 

[Pseudonymph]

No doubt he was not as sprightly as when younger but I think Gene’s mobility was better than being given credit for here, he used a cane to get around but if he had his sunglasses with him he had clearly been, or was about to, spend time outdoors, he also lived in a sprawling mansion, if his mobility was that bad they would have downsized

I dont doubt his mobility wasn’t great but it would be more than enough to let the dogs out, go looking for her

We have no way of knowing that. Two years ago, driving through the fast food line, he looked old but relatively healthy. He was far more frail and emaciated a year ago in the photos we've seen, and a year later, at 95, with several people stating his health was failing recently, I'm guessing he was fragile as a feather. Older people often don't realize how weak they are, especially when they have had tons of support from a caregiver. Example: My husband's grandparents had been supporting each other symbiotically and when he had a heart attack and spent some time in the hospital, it all went wrong. Next thing you know, they were driving around town and couldn't remember where to go despite living there for decades. He had been covering for her dementia and when he also began to lose his memory, their system failed.