Gene Hackman dead at 95: Iconic actor and wife, 63, are found dead with their dog at Santa Fe home. #3

[doublestop]

It’s clear that he wasn’t doing yoga or riding a bike. The photo of him holding on to BA arm is 2 years old. He was hunched over and looked rough then. So it makes me wonder why she would say that. Maybe to sound positive? If they were estranged maybe she wanted to preserve his dignity?

Or that's what Betsy told her, because she didn't want the girls coming to SF for some reason?

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

The detail about picking Zinnia up from the vet is confusing. Was it end of January or on Feb 9? One thing is clear though is that Gruda's supplied the Hackman's dogs' food, and Betsy picked it up regularly. So why didn't she pick up dogfood from the vet on the 11th instead of going to a petfood store? My guess, which I wrote earlier, is that she couldn't face Cerrillos Rd. To get to Gruda's she would have had to drive down Santa Fe's busiest and most unpleasant streets. It's usually bumper to bumper traffic, tons of stoplights, many unhoused people, and lots of cars turning onto and off of the roadway. Everyone in Santa Fe avoids it when they can, but it's the only way from one end of town to the other. My guess is that Betsy was already feeling so bad, she couldn't face that drive. Instead she picked up dogfood somewhere else and headed home. CVS is right next to Sprouts. I'm not sure which petfood store she might have gone to but I know of two very close to Sprouts. Just my theory. She seems very disciplined about her dogs' care, and not going to Gruda's as usual tells me something was amiss.

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

I can't find the transcript of the press conference, but I do remember being slightly confused. I was taking notes, and I thought there was a vet reference in January and then one on Feb 9. Did anyone catch that? -- As for Dr Gruda's interview, I believe he was accurate. It's whether he was reported accurately. As I said earlier, it's the best vet in Santa Fe. As he himself says, something like, we like customers who take good care of their pets.

 

[Luna20]

Or that's what Betsy told her, because she didn't want the girls coming to SF for some reason?

She said that she specifically spoke with her father. She also said that he was in very good physical shape. “Pilates and yoga several times a week”?? He was not in good health, and on borrowed time as per one of the officials, so which was it? Her version or what we heard at the presser? Here is the article:

“She stated that her father was in "very good physical condition" despite his age, and that there was "no indication that there was any problem" with his health prior to his death”

Leslie Anne Hackman told the Daily Mail that her father "liked to do Pilates and yoga, and he was continuing to do that several times a week." She said Arakawa was responsible for keeping her father in such good health”

Gene Hackman's daughter breaks silence on her reclusive famous father

Gene Hackman's daughter Leslie has broken her silence following her father and stepmother's mysterious death in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[HoneyBunOne]

She said that she specifically spoke with her father. She also said that he was in very good physical shape. “Pilates and yoga several times a week”?? He was not in good health, and on borrowed time as per one of the officials, so which was it? Her version or what we heard at the presser? Here is the article:

“She stated that her father was in "very good physical condition" despite his age, and that there was "no indication that there was any problem" with his health prior to his death”

Leslie Anne Hackman told the Daily Mail that her father "liked to do Pilates and yoga, and he was continuing to do that several times a week." She said Arakawa was responsible for keeping her father in such good health”

Gene Hackman's daughter breaks silence on her reclusive famous father

Gene Hackman's daughter Leslie has broken her silence following her father and stepmother's mysterious death in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com.

www.dailymail.co.uk

The "good health, yoga" etc could have been quite accurate until fairly recently, or it could be a cover to save his dignity or privacy, even from family members. Someone mentioned up thread that they knew of/were in a situation where the caregiver would fob off any interactions between the dementia sufferer and their other family members. Eventually that person went to the residence and found out the truth. I'm sorry I don't recall who you are, or all the details. Keeping it quiet can be done for several reasons I would imagine, but many times I'm sure it would be to keep that person in their home for as long as possible. Sometimes it would be one very elderly person caring for another, and you can understand why they just want to live out their last days in peace, in their home, and not be forced into a facility. Given Gene's fame and how opportunistic people can be, maybe they just wanted to keep it quiet. Maybe his kids would call periodically and Betsy would give them an update, much like the caregiver her own mother had. If they only checked in every few months, then maybe it was just the last couple of check ins where they didn't speak to him directly. It would be easy to just say "Oh, he's at an appointment right now" or "He's just taking a nap, I'll tell him you called". He obviously didn't have the type of relationship where they see each other or call regularly, and that doesn't mean anything bad necessarily. Just some family are closer than others.
MOO

 

[ttjo]

I can't find the transcript of the press conference, but I do remember being slightly confused. I was taking notes, and I thought there was a vet reference in January and then one on Feb 9. Did anyone catch that? -- As for Dr Gruda's interview, I believe he was accurate. It's whether he was reported accurately. As I said earlier, it's the best vet in Santa Fe. As he himself says, something like, we like customers who take good care of their pets.

I copied a link from a previous post (#485) I hope this works for you.

Post in thread 'Gene Hackman dead at 95: Iconic actor and wife, 63, are found dead with their dog at Santa Fe home. #3'

Mar 8, 2025

Here is a transcript of the press conference.
Well worth reading through carefully. A pity that some media reporters have clearly failed to do so.

https://turboscribe.ai/transcript/share/4980981187887858464/36FWZhd5l3_dwbhcUFWaBXevd-hLrekSeP3lRkE-A6E/see-officials-provide-an-update-on-gene-hackman-and-wifes-death-investigation

• Cherwell

• 
• 

 

[Cherwell]

The detail about picking Zinnia up from the vet is confusing. Was it end of January or on Feb 9? One thing is clear though is that Gruda's supplied the Hackman's dogs' food, and Betsy picked it up regularly. So why didn't she pick up dogfood from the vet on the 11th instead of going to a petfood store? My guess, which I wrote earlier, is that she couldn't face Cerrillos Rd. To get to Gruda's she would have had to drive down Santa Fe's busiest and most unpleasant streets. It's usually bumper to bumper traffic, tons of stoplights, many unhoused people, and lots of cars turning onto and off of the roadway. Everyone in Santa Fe avoids it when they can, but it's the only way from one end of town to the other. My guess is that Betsy was already feeling so bad, she couldn't face that drive. Instead she picked up dogfood somewhere else and headed home. CVS is right next to Sprouts. I'm not sure which petfood store she might have gone to but I know of two very close to Sprouts. Just my theory. She seems very disciplined about her dogs' care, and not going to Gruda's as usual tells me something was amiss.

Or, as @HoneyBunOne suggested, she had run out of time. Looking at Google maps, it estimates about 15+ minutes to drive to Gruda. At that time of day the traffic is likely to be heavy so perhaps she felt it would be cutting it fine to get there before 5.30.

Could be a combination of both, of course.

 

[CityKid]

So I agree with it being normal to tale a few days for meds. But the surgery was on the 9th so I'm assuming it would have come in around the time she stopped responding. She wouldn't have missed that call willingly.

Any time any of my dogs has had a surgery, I've gotten the meds at the vet when I took my dog home after surgery. The meds she was meant to pick up could have been for any of their three dogs.

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

Another question. Where did I get the idea that a pest company team discovered the bodies? When recent stories makes it sound like it was men from their development’s work crew? I’ll check the transcript link kindly shared above. Thank you!

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

Or, as @HoneyBunOne suggested, she had run out of time. Looking at Google maps, it estimates about 15+ minutes to drive to Gruda. At that time of day the traffic is likely to be heavy so perhaps she felt it would be cutting it fine to get there before 5.30.

Could be a combination of both, of course.

Cerrillos at 3-7 is doubly bad. But if it were a pressing concern she would have gone first. In fact, she sounds like the kind of person who would have called and let them know she’d pick up soon when she was feeling better, IF she had felt better. It really does sound to me like by 11th she was quite unwell.

 

[Cherwell]

Is there any firm confirmation that she was due to pick up anything from Gruda that day?
Or is it based on the assumption in the USAToday article?
We know that they called her on the 17th, but that's all.

 

[priyaya]

It sounds like USA Today got sone interviews beyond the press conference to get the tid bits inserted. That's why it's difficult to take everything as fact from it. I have a feeling we will know more time wise when the phone data comes back. The case is currently. Still open.

 

[ttjo]

Another question. Where did I get the idea that a pest company team discovered the bodies? When recent stories makes it sound like it was men from their development’s work crew? I’ll check the transcript link kindly shared above. Thank you

I believe that the pest people came to do some work, and then they called the Caretaker because no one was answering at the Hackman residence. The caretaker then went up to the house to check it out and saw someone through the window. The caretaker called 911, said the gate was locked, and he had to go between the walls (of the outside gate) to get into the yard. So I'm assuming the pest people had not even gone up to the house yet; no one had let them in. That's the reason for the call ( no one answering, which was unusual), which makes it sound like they had been doing pest control regularly.

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

Is there any firm confirmation that she was due to pick up anything from Gruda that day?
Or is it based on the assumption in the USAToday article?
We know that they called her on the 17th, but that's all.

Not exactly. But Dr Gruda is quoted in the USA article, “She was devoted to those dogs,” Robert Gruda, the hospital’s owner, told USA TODAY in an interview. “She was consistent, predictable. We knew something was wrong when she didn’t pick up the food on time.” I consider him a very reliable source, since I know the reputation of his clinic, and I trust since his words are quoted, they are as spoken. He mentions food and Betsy missing a pickup. I put that together with her picking up dogfood on her last afternoon. Granted, they may not be related, but then again, they may. It's a shame we don't have exact information regarding the missed pickup and the date Betsy was expected to get it. Clearly after the 9th, if we can believe other sources who say she was at the Gruda's on that day. -- I hope the Sheriff's office will relay more info in the future, but they may not.

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

I believe that the pest people came to do some work, and then they called the Caretaker because no one was answering at the Hackman residence. The caretaker then went up to the house to check it out and saw someone through the window. The caretaker called 911, said the gate was locked, and he had to go between the walls (of the outside gate) to get into the yard. So I'm assuming the pest people had not even gone up to the house yet; no one had let them in. That's the reason for the call ( no one answering, which was unusual), which makes it sound like they had been doing pest control regularly.

Thank you. That makes sense. It's also possible the pest people did go up to the house, but felt something was wrong and contacted the caretaker. That was the first impression I got. I can imagine that the pest company knew the caretaker of the development better than they knew the owners, since so many people in SF (including one neighbor interviewed) only live in SF part time. We have lots and lots of empty, beautiful homes.

 

[ttjo]

Thank you. That makes sense. It's also possible the pest people did go up to the house, but felt something was wrong and contacted the caretaker. That was the first impression I got. I can imagine that the pest company knew the caretaker of the development better than they knew the owners, since so many people in SF (including one neighbor interviewed) only live in SF part time. We have lots and lots of empty, beautiful homes.

Never know, they could have slipped through the walls at the entrance gate also.
If it was me, I'd feel like I was being intrusive going in when they didn't answer, but it was a good call on their part to contact the caretaker to do a welfare check.
At least it sounds like they had the same or consistent people servicing the property, who could tell something wasn't right. Thank god for that, or who knows when they would have been discovered, given how private they were.

 

[Joe Friday]

Not exactly. But Dr Gruda is quoted in the USA article, “She was devoted to those dogs,” Robert Gruda, the hospital’s owner, told USA TODAY in an interview. “She was consistent, predictable. We knew something was wrong when she didn’t pick up the food on time.” I consider him a very reliable source, since I know the reputation of his clinic, and I trust since his words are quoted, they are as spoken. He mentions food and Betsy missing a pickup. I put that together with her picking up dogfood on her last afternoon. Granted, they may not be related, but then again, they may. It's a shame we don't have exact information regarding the missed pickup and the date Betsy was expected to get it. Clearly after the 9th, if we can believe other sources who say she was at the Gruda's on that day. -- I hope the Sheriff's office will relay more info in the future, but they may not.

Was it made public what Betsy bought at the pet food store?

She could have gone there for any number of reasons besides to buy dog food. If she was purchasing food at the vet it was likely a special brand of food not available at a pet food store. Suddenly switching one or three dogs food could cause a lot of problems.

JMO

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

Was it made public what Betsy bought at the pet food store?

She could have gone there for any number of reasons besides to buy dog food. If she was purchasing food at the vet it was likely a special brand of food not available at a pet food store. Suddenly switching one or three dogs food could cause a lot of problems.

JMO

Since the pet food store wasn't named, I wondered if LE was basing her activities on debit or credit card data. (Before getting the surveillance videos.) IMO a pet food store would love to be mentioned in this story, since Betsy was a noted dog lover, and I was surprised they weren't. Since the petfood store wasn't mentioned by name I figured they didn't remember her visit and only had transaction records. Again, jmho and guess. All of this is guesswork, and I hope LE is following up as much as they can. They seemed pretty certain that Feb 11 was close to the day Betsy died. Finally, not going to Gruda as usual seems a big tell in the story to me.

 

[Joe Friday]

I keep thinking of ways to narrow down when Betsy may have became incapacitated.

It would be interesting to know if the house was serviced by the Sante Fe Water Dept or if there was a private well for the house.

I see two houses on Old Sunset Trail listed on Realtor.com. One says it has a private well and septic tank, the other says it has public water and public sewer.

Smart water meters used by city utility departments can report water usage in real time. Looking at the water meter data it may show a significant drop in water usage at the time when Betsy became incapacitated.

Same goes for the electric meter and electric usage.

JMO

 

[priyaya]

I keep thinking of ways to narrow down when Betsy may have became incapacitated.

It would be interesting to know if the house was serviced by the Sante Fe Water Dept or if there was a private well for the house.

I see two houses on Old Sunset Trail listed on Realtor.com. One says it has a private well and septic tank, the other says it has public water and public sewer.

Smart water meters used by city utility departments can report water usage in real time. Looking at the water meter data it may show a significant drop in water usage at the time when Betsy became incapacitated.

Same goes for the electric meter and electric usage.

JMO

Very interesting idea. I keep mentioning the phone records because they can see things like if you turned it on, when it ran out of power, it even tracks your small movements .
I also mention waiting on the dog autopsy because if they can figure that out, then they will know betsy was incapacitated. With the dog was think if surgery maybe they could see how far healing progressed. I'm sure they have tons.of things to look further.

I'm interested in the timing because this is a very underrated health issue, even out west. I believe i was one who mentioned hantavirus back on the first thread as soon as it was revealed.pest control discovered it. As a US east coaster who lived in colorado foothills 1 year, I knew of someone at work who got hamtvirus, but did not have bad symptoms and was okay. But this is just shocking that someone going down this fast. I had no idea, and really there should be more awareness and general testing