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

[shetalksinstereo]

When someone has fallen, a devoted spouse is usually focussed on saving them and will call 911 for emergency aid, for potential resusitation.

Not self-declare them dead...and just leave them lying there...not even give them a burial...

It depends. My 80yo dad got up out of his chair on a Friday night at 11pm and was walking to either the bathroom or the kitchen and he fell. My mom, who is starting to have memory issues, went and asked him if he wanted to get up and he said I can't. She said' "come on, let's get up and go to the ER" and he said he couldn't. So she let him lay there. At 1am she calls me crying and says "dad's gone". I'm like what??? She said he fell in the hall and couldn't get up. I said did you call 911? And she says no. I said call 911 and I am on my way over. They resuscitated him, but he had suffered anoxia from being out of oxygen for so long and they stopped working on him at the hospital and let him pass. It was awful! I asked her why she didn't call for help, and she thought it would be better to let him rest and he would get up when he felt better.

 

[ttjo]

maintenance , security, caretaker all the names create confusion. in the press conf, the LE officer that spoke said a maintenace person there to do pest control, contacted security. I think the security guy called 911 and may have identified himself as the Caretaker of the property.
time stamp 2:33

 

[CHEL]

It depends. My 80yo dad got up out of his chair on a Friday night at 11pm and was walking to either the bathroom or the kitchen and he fell. My mom, who is starting to have memory issues, went and asked him if he wanted to get up and he said I can't. She said' "come on, let's get up and go to the ER" and he said he couldn't. So she let him lay there. At 1am she calls me crying and says "dad's gone". I'm like what??? She said he fell in the hall and couldn't get up. I said did you call 911? And she says no. I said call 911 and I am on my way over. They resuscitated him, but he had suffered anoxia from being out of oxygen for so long and they stopped working on him at the hospital and let him pass. It was awful! I asked her why she didn't call for help, and she thought it would be better to let him rest and he would get up when he felt better.

That is awful I am so sorry.

 

[ttjo]

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.

I'm with you, I found someone deceased and cant remember the day after. Cant remember that people stayed with me among other things. Altho I thought I felt completely "with it" at the time.

 

[shetalksinstereo]

That is awful I am so sorry.

Thanks! It was awful and I couldn't villify my mother. She can't help it. It may not have made a difference, who knows? He had just been diagnosed with chronic leukemia and had a port put in a couple days prior and he didn't want to go through treatment, but conceded for my mother's sake.

 

[Moonsie]

I don’t take a lot from either the “moved” space heater or the pills. One of the surviving dogs could have knocked over the heater, and/or stood up on the counter and knocked over the open pill container.

moo.

 

[jmz]

Yes, my thoughts too. I picture their closets being larger than my bedrooms.

After reading the search document, it said immediately after walking in the front door, the bathroom was on the left. In most homes (maybe not a huge remodeled home) this would be a half bath or powder room for guests. From the description of the closet with the dog crate in it, I can't visualize how a bathroom that big would be right off the foyer. He said he walked in and 'looked into the bathroom' and she was laying there on her side.' Also interesting is how someone could look through an outside window into a bathroom and see someone lying there, most bathrooms have some type of privacy windows or window coverings for privacy. The last odd thing is, assuming this wasn't the primary bedroom bathroom (which wouldn't likely have a door to it from the foyer), why would she be in there with a bottle of pills? It just doesn't seem like the placement for a bathroom where one would keep a bottle of pills, or actually have a closet big enough for a dog crate. I am in real estate and have seen a LOT of homes, so this all strikes me as odd. Not sure if the primary bedroom was on the main floor or upstairs.. Seems like if it was a guest bath, she may have walked in there with the bottle of pills, but with the kitchen just past it, why not just stand at the kitchen sink and take the pills? All very odd. Was looking online to see photos of the house, there was only the Architectural Digest article with 10 photos.

My 'hunch' is that the primary suite was on the second floor possibly for views. Maybe with advanced age they had an additional bedroom on the main floor that was more accessible. But, most high-end homes have elevators. Well, I'm confusing even myself at this point!

 

[Skigh]

Gene Hackman investigators reveal drugs they found inside actor's home

Mummified bodies of retired actor Gene Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 64, were found in their secluded mansion in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Wednesday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Investigators searched the $3.8 million home on Thursday and found thyroid medication and Diltiazem inside, along with Tylenol.

Arakawa was found dead on the floor of the couple's bathroom. An open bottle of prescription pills was found partially scattered on a countertop nearby.

Also in the home was a 2025 monthly calendar planner, indicating the couple were looking forward to the future.

Police also listed two green phones and the couple's health records, but didn't go into detail about what was in them.

Autopsies were completed early on Thursday morning, authorities are still waiting on the full results, along with a toxicology report.

 

[ttjo]

Joseph Scott Morgan on newsnation

 

[priyaya]

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

not to get dark but they could have lived off the bodies

 

[slowpoke]

Sheriff was asked if front door just unlocked, or was it ajar.
He says several doors were unlocked.
Front door was closed, but unlocked.
One door was ajar, at rear of residence, where the surviving dogs were going in and out of.
He concurs there is conflicting stories about the doors—is uncertain if open before or after by emergency personnel, so it’s something they need to get an answer to.

https://www.facebook.com/SantaFeFireDepartment/posts/pfbid0D5Lb6PG8ZQo7WoyEAeNTAqjzwiBVdKzDqSryn244pNrk3cnpn57BLRWKAj3tNfLBl

 

[ClearAhead]

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/

Yes this makes most sense. An 8000+ sq ft home obviously had several doors, not just a front door. That one was ajar, another locked might explain the contradicting information.

As for the discrepancy in dates, it’s possible in 1990 the building permit as granted but construction was not completed until 1997, while the couple lived in the smaller house next door.

JMO

 

[Sunshynn]

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.

I agree with this.
My ex-husbands cousin shot and killed his own father in the house next door to where we were. I woke up to the ambulance lights flashing on the ceiling and saw them bring the dad out in a body bag and the cousin drive away in the back of the police car.
From that point until many weeks later - I was, unexplainedly, scared of the house. I couldn't look at it. Couldn't talk about it. I was in my late 20's and was scared to death of a house!
I slept for a week with the lights on in my room because I would wake up and think about the house and be petrified with fright.
It seems silly to think about now, nearly 15 years later, but your brain does crazy things when traumatized and under very high stress situations.

 

[Cedars]

After reading the search document, it said immediately after walking in the front door, the bathroom was on the left. In most homes (maybe not a huge remodeled home) this would be a half bath or powder room for guests. From the description of the closet with the dog crate in it, I can't visualize how a bathroom that big would be right off the foyer. He said he walked in and 'looked into the bathroom' and she was laying there on her side.' Also interesting is how someone could look through an outside window into a bathroom and see someone lying there, most bathrooms have some type of privacy windows or window coverings for privacy. The last odd thing is, assuming this wasn't the primary bedroom bathroom (which wouldn't likely have a door to it from the foyer), why would she be in there with a bottle of pills? It just doesn't seem like the placement for a bathroom where one would keep a bottle of pills, or actually have a closet big enough for a dog crate. I am in real estate and have seen a LOT of homes, so this all strikes me as odd. Not sure if the primary bedroom was on the main floor or upstairs.. Seems like if it was a guest bath, she may have walked in there with the bottle of pills, but with the kitchen just past it, why not just stand at the kitchen sink and take the pills? All very odd. Was looking online to see photos of the house, there was only the Architectural Digest article with 10 photos.

My 'hunch' is that the primary suite was on the second floor possibly for views. Maybe with advanced age they had an additional bedroom on the main floor that was more accessible. But, most high-end homes have elevators. Well, I'm confusing even myself at this point!

I agree, this struck me right away.

Isn't it true that normally the powder room is never used by owners, so it will always be clean for guests? Also, as you say, you don't have a shower or bath, medicine cabinet, towel storage, etc...there's just a toilet and sink with a stack of guest hand towels.

My thought is, it could be near some type of coat closet for guests, which is where the crate might have been.

I also assume that the couple would have spent much of their time in the kitchen/maybe a den/mudroom (for the dogs)/patio--wouldn't there normally be another bathroom there for family use?

I guess, since they were reclusive, they maybe adapted to not expecting guests. And perhaps had downstairs his and her bathrooms...?

 

[Joe Friday]

Gene Hackman investigators reveal drugs they found inside actor's home

Mummified bodies of retired actor Gene Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 64, were found in their secluded mansion in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Wednesday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Investigators searched the $3.8 million home on Thursday and found thyroid medication and Diltiazem inside, along with Tylenol.

Arakawa was found dead on the floor of the couple's bathroom. An open bottle of prescription pills was found partially scattered on a countertop nearby.

Also in the home was a 2025 monthly calendar planner, indicating the couple were looking forward to the future.

Police also listed two green phones and the couple's health records, but didn't go into detail about what was in them.

Autopsies were completed early on Thursday morning, authorities are still waiting on the full results, along with a toxicology report.

I think it's without reason that the pills found on the counter were collected and no doubt one of the two (prescription) medications listed on the search warrant return, so we can deduct those pills were either the thyroid medication or the Diltiazem. I don't think either of those drugs would be a drug someone would consider taking if they were looking to commit suicide, so I don't think a drug overdose is the cause of Betsy death. Also I highly doubt she was getting either of those drugs (pills) for Gene in an emergency situation if he was having a medical episode.

It is very likely one of the surviving dogs could have knocked over the pill bottle and moved the space heater.

JMO

 

[NuttMegg]

After reading the search document, it said immediately after walking in the front door, the bathroom was on the left. In most homes (maybe not a huge remodeled home) this would be a half bath or powder room for guests. From the description of the closet with the dog crate in it, I can't visualize how a bathroom that big would be right off the foyer. He said he walked in and 'looked into the bathroom' and she was laying there on her side.' Also interesting is how someone could look through an outside window into a bathroom and see someone lying there, most bathrooms have some type of privacy windows or window coverings for privacy. The last odd thing is, assuming this wasn't the primary bedroom bathroom (which wouldn't likely have a door to it from the foyer), why would she be in there with a bottle of pills? It just doesn't seem like the placement for a bathroom where one would keep a bottle of pills, or actually have a closet big enough for a dog crate. I am in real estate and have seen a LOT of homes, so this all strikes me as odd. Not sure if the primary bedroom was on the main floor or upstairs.. Seems like if it was a guest bath, she may have walked in there with the bottle of pills, but with the kitchen just past it, why not just stand at the kitchen sink and take the pills? All very odd. Was looking online to see photos of the house, there was only the Architectural Digest article with 10 photos.

My 'hunch' is that the primary suite was on the second floor possibly for views. Maybe with advanced age they had an additional bedroom on the main floor that was more accessible. But, most high-end homes have elevators. Well, I'm confusing even myself at this point!

The caretaker also saw GH. Do you think the mudroom was further to the left?

 

[friendlysleuther]

I'm not in the discussion any more, he thinks he's the caretaker who are we to say differently.

He stated on the 911 call,— “caretaker of the subdivision”
NOT their personal caretaker

 

[Sunshynn]

The caretaker also saw GH. Do you think the mudroom was further to the left?

I'm wondering if maybe he saw Betsy's feet sticking out of the door frame of the bathroom? I also find it weird that someone could look through an outside window and see into the bathroom.
Maybe, likewise, he could see Gene's feet sticking out of the mudroom from that window?
Knowing that they were the only two people who lived there...

 

[NuttMegg]

I'm wondering if maybe he saw Betsy's feet sticking out of the door frame of the bathroom? I also find it weird that someone could look through an outside window and see into the bathroom.
Maybe, likewise, he could see Gene's feet sticking out of the mudroom from that window?
Knowing that they were the only two people who lived there...

Iirc he said he saw a man and a woman, so he must have seen more than feet.

 

[NuttMegg]

I'm wondering if maybe he saw Betsy's feet sticking out of the door frame of the bathroom? I also find it weird that someone could look through an outside window and see into the bathroom.
Maybe, likewise, he could see Gene's feet sticking out of the mudroom from that window?
Knowing that they were the only two people who lived there...

We definitely could use the information as to where the mudroom is, and which way his body was lying. As tho he were leaving or coming towards her. And if the mudroom door was open, plus was the bathroom window open.