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

[adot0902]

If the maintenance man saw both bodies, then why didn't he see that the front door was open?

Given that Betty was by the front door and he saw her through the window?

I'm not very good at spatial awareness imagining, so maybe it's a geography question. But it's confusing.

I've told this story before but it always seems relevant. I was at a friends house when he was shot and killed outside his home. I saw it happen, I called a friend, waited for cops, as soon as I saw one I calmly walked out the front door and went to my friends house. It wasn't until the next morning it even hit me what the heck happened. I was in literal shock from seeing his body, so I can confirm your brain doesn't work the way you think it should during an emergency, sometimes it goes right to fight or flight mode and you honestly can not control it. I wouldn't have ever thought that I would run in that situation but I did, and I swear it felt like I was watching myself not in control of my body at all. We don't know that the maintenance men didn't think someone was possibly still in the house, or what was going through their heads. I can not and will not fault before for how they react in an emergency because first hand I know how odd your body can react.

 

[Warwick1991]

How would there be higher levels of moisture in the bathroom, when no one was using the bathroom?

There can be higher levels of moisture in a bathroom from toilets - after a flush, the bowl is refilled, also the tank if it is a tank toilet. The standing water is a source of humidity.

 

[Joe Friday]

My guess is she went to get her medication for the day and the poison filled the air, she went down, knocked her pills every where and possibly knocked over a space heater. While that was happening GH came through the door at the mud room and was immediately taken by the poisoning and hit the floor.

SFS&BBM

If the concentration of CO or poisonous gas was so high that GH was immediately taken by the poisoning gas upon walking in the door, I think all three of the dogs would have perished at the same time and been found deceased within the house as well.

JMO

 

[Deleted member 235284]

It will be interesting to see if the planner indicates any kind of mental decline or plan.

Heart medication but that could just be Gene's.

 

[Sunshynn]

If the concentration of CO or poisonous gas was so high that GH was immediately taken by the poisoning gas upon walking in the door, I think all three of the dogs would have perished at the same time and been found deceased within the house as well.

I just wonder if the deceased dog was a 'velcro' dog to Betsy and the other two were more independent and were outside (if CO or poisonous gas is indeed the reason) and that's why they are alive and the other is not.
The police said that they had access to a doggy door at the residence.

 

[NuttMegg]

Caretaker-- of the subdivision -- maintenance man

I'm not in the discussion any more, he thinks he's the caretaker who are we to say differently. What diff does it make? The point I was making is that as the caretaker was calling 911, he said he wasn't in the house, the door was closed, and I think he said locked, or another word starting with L.

The reason it's important to know if and to what degree that door was open is because as others have pointed out. An 8 000+ sq ft house is unlikely to have a CO buildup, much less with a door open near the victims.

 

[armchairagatha]

It will be interesting to see if the planner indicates any kind of mental decline or plan.

Heart medication but that could just be Gene's.
View attachment 566971

Are you saying the prescription pills found were heart medication? If so, it strengthens my theory of a sudden heart attack in Betsy that triggered an unfortunate chain reaction of events. Very likely she was reaching for her meds but unfortunately passed out knocking down the heater and the meds and falling to the ground in the process. If they were Gene’s meds it doesn’t explain why she fell suddenly.

 

[Dotta]

How would there be higher levels of moisture in the bathroom, when no one was using the bathroom?

'In Arakawa's case,
only her hands and feet were dried out.
....

Time of mummification can vary depending on conditions, the most important reportedly being dry air, good ventilation..."

I guess a mud room's conditions were different than the bathroom's.

"The bathroom is probably the most humid room in your house, but there are many ways to easily reduce and control the humidity levels."

Gene Hackman's Wife Betsy Arakawa's Body Had Signs of 'Mummification' — Here’s What That Means

The body of Gene Hackman’s wife showed signs of “mummification in both hands and feet,” according to reports. Here’s what that means.

people.com

Reducing Humidity In Your Bathroom | Easy Bathrooms

www.easybathrooms.com

 

[Ontario Mom]

The front door was locked. Dogs were outside.

The Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that deputies were called to the scene after a maintenance worker who had gone to the home to perform some work on Wednesday afternoon grew concerned when no one answered the door. The worker asked local security officers to conduct a welfare check, and when they arrived and saw unresponsive bodies through the window they called 911.

What We Know About Gene Hackman’s Death

New Mexico’s medical examiner said it was likely Mr. Hackman had died around Feb. 18, and that his wife, Betsy Arakawa, died around Feb. 11.

www.nytimes.com

I haven't read all the new updates but didn't they initially report the front door was unlocked and slightly ajar, with one dog outside, and two of them inside - one alive & healthy, the other deceased?

 

[Sadi]

No. My Dad and his buddy were having after work drinks and the CO poisoning wafted in and killed them both sitting up. It looked like they were in the middle of a conversation and then poof they died.

My guess is she went to get her medication for the day and the poison filled the air, she went down, knocked her pills every where and possibly knocked over a space heater. While that was happening GH came through the door at the mud room and was immediately taken by the poisoning and hit the floor.

I’m sorry for what you went through, this is very sad.

 

[Occam's Zebra]

It will be interesting to see if the planner indicates any kind of mental decline or plan.

Heart medication but that could just be Gene's.
View attachment 566971

Diltiazem is an anti-hypertension med that's also used for heart rhythm problems and angina. It could be his or hers.

Most older adults are taking multiple meds so it seems odd to only find two, but perhaps they were unusually healthy in that regard.

 

[DS2021]

<modsnip - quoted post was removed (grossly unfriendly towards the family members>

The Santa Fe police department has confirmed a press conference will be held at 3pm on Friday

 

[BrianJohnson]

The front door was locked. Dogs were outside.

The Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that deputies were called to the scene after a maintenance worker who had gone to the home to perform some work on Wednesday afternoon grew concerned when no one answered the door. The worker asked local security officers to conduct a welfare check, and when they arrived and saw unresponsive bodies through the window they called 911.

What We Know About Gene Hackman’s Death

New Mexico’s medical examiner said it was likely Mr. Hackman had died around Feb. 18, and that his wife, Betsy Arakawa, died around Feb. 11.

www.nytimes.com

The 2 dogs were healthy and in good shape so given Gene and his wife were dead for up to 2 weeks it does make me wonder what the dogs did for food, they must have been well fed or would have been emaciated etc

 

[Cedars]

I haven't read all the new updates but didn't they initially report the front door was unlocked and slightly ajar, with one dog outside, and two of them inside - one alive & healthy, the other deceased?

Yes, in the search warrant the deputy who arrived on the scene described how the front door was "ajar".

The full narrative from the actual search was posted by Knox on this page

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

Feb 27, 2025

STATEMENT OF FACTS KNOWN TO AFFIANT:

At approximately 1:43 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26th, 2025, Santa Fe Regional Emergency Communications Center (RECC) received a call for service regarding a reporting party (RP) locating two (2) deceased individuals inside the residence of 1425 Old Sunset Trail, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501.

3 Santa Fe County patrol deputies Javier Barron and Joshua Thomas were then dispatch to location to conduct a death investigation. When Deputy Thomas and Barron arrived, Deputy Thomas indicated he spoke to two individuals (one of which was the reporting party)...

• Knox

• 
• 

 

[CityKid]

I have two questions, trying to work through a timeline. For the purposes of figuring out which door was ajar and which one the caretaker couldn't open, I'm trying to do a door count. I didn't see them labeled/marked on the floor plan PDF due to the resolution. From the AD photos at my link, we can see several (three sets of French doors, one door with a large glass panel). We know there's at least one more (the mud room egress). From the photos and floor plan, has anyone figured out which door was the ajar door that the police encountered, and which was the locked door that the caretaker encountered?
Also, the AD story is from 1990, but almost every source I've seen says it was built in 1997. Does that make sense?

Revisiting Gene Hackman’s House in Santa Fe

AD looks back on our 1990 tour of the late actor’s rustic New Mexico abode

www.yahoo.com

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1425-Old-Sunset-Trl-Santa-Fe-NM-87501/6858585_zpid/

 

[Friday Fan]

The low temperature was 15 degrees on February 13, not -3 and the high was 48 degrees.

Santa Fe, NM Weather History | Weather Underground

They lived at a higher elevation, so getting accurate weather stats in challenging. They're about 1,000 feet higher in elevation than Santa Fe.

Get Maps

Explore, interact, and download USGS topographic maps free of charge from topoView.

ngmdb.usgs.gov

Couldn't find weather stations for their specific area.

 

[Cedars]

I'm not in the discussion any more, he thinks he's the caretaker who are we to say differently. What diff does it make? The point I was making is that as the caretaker was calling 911, he said he wasn't in the house, the door was closed, and I think he said locked, or another word starting with L.

The reason it's important to know if and to what degree that door was open is because as others have pointed out. An 8 000+ sq ft house is unlikely to have a CO buildup, much less with a door open near the victims.

Just to add, the key issue with the 'caretaker' was to quickly describe his relationship with deceased.

Not a friend, not family, not a big story about why exactly he was on the property or his profession, he was just there to do a routine outdoor job and so knew nothing about what happened.

IMO, this person's priority was getting past the questions and explanations, getting past the 911 operator wanting you to go in and describe what you see, and check whether the victims are breathing or moving, can you do CPR, etc...Forget that, forget the ambulence and fire trucks - just send the police!

So he may well have lied to the operator about the front door being locked. IMO, he'd actually been in the home, seen the horror, and was not interested in going back in. Also he wanted to go to the subdivision gate to ensure police could get in, and guide them to the home.

 

[Sadi]

I've told this story before but it always seems relevant. I was at a friends house when he was shot and killed outside his home. I saw it happen, I called a friend, waited for cops, as soon as I saw one I calmly walked out the front door and went to my friends house. It wasn't until the next morning it even hit me what the heck happened. I was in literal shock from seeing his body, so I can confirm your brain doesn't work the way you think it should during an emergency, sometimes it goes right to fight or flight mode and you honestly can not control it. I wouldn't have ever thought that I would run in that situation but I did, and I swear it felt like I was watching myself not in control of my body at all. We don't know that the maintenance men didn't think someone was possibly still in the house, or what was going through their heads. I can not and will not fault before for how they react in an emergency because first hand I know how odd your body can react.

You’re absolutely right, you don’t know how you would react in a stressful situation ahead of time. I’m sorry for what you’ve been through.

 

[NuttMegg]

It will be interesting to see if the planner indicates any kind of mental decline or plan.

Heart medication but that could just be Gene's.
View attachment 566971u

Thanks, finally. Diltiazem treats a-fib. Better than the beta blocker mentioned, and better than digoxin. But whose prescription.

AI summary: Diltiazem is effective in treating AFIB-RVR by slowing conduction through the atrioventricular node (AV) and by prolonging AV node refractoriness. When compared head-to-head with metoprolol or digoxin, diltiazem bolus was superior in achieving ventricular rate control at 30 minutes post-administration [4,5].

 

[dotr]

Feb 28 2025

''Gene Hackman, a Hollywood giant and two-time Oscar winner, was found dead along with his wife and dog in their New Mexico home Wednesday, though investigators believe they may have been dead for some time and the cause of death has yet to be revealed.Hackman, 95, was a prolific actor who performed as an array of heroes and villains in films including “The French Connection,” “Hoosiers” and “Superman" from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s.Questions swirl around the deaths as details of the scene trickle out. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Thursday the couple had been dead "for quite a while." Authorities have scheduled a news conference for 5 p.m. Eastern (3 p.m. Mountain Standard Time) on Friday to provide updates on the case.''