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

[pixiepixel]

This from the article seems to rule out CO poisoning.

“Firefighters were called to the property but there were no signs of a gas leak.”

Unless the carbon monoxide was coming from the space heater found near the body, which seemed to have "fallen".

 

[Sarahlou]

What on earth? I can't make sense of any of those new details

 

[MassGuy]

This from the article seems to rule out CO poisoning.

“Firefighters were called to the property but there were no signs of a gas leak.”

I’m now leaning away from CO poisoning, but here’s what AI says about gas not being detected in certain events.

Yes, it’s possible for someone to die of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and for the fire department to find no trace of the gas by the time they investigate. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can dissipate quickly in certain conditions, especially if the source of the CO is no longer active or if ventilation has occurred before the fire department arrives.

Here’s how this could happen:

1. **Source Stops Producing CO**: If the carbon monoxide came from something like a malfunctioning heater, car exhaust, or a small fire that burned out, the source might stop emitting CO before the fire department gets there. Without an ongoing leak, the gas levels could drop.

2. **Ventilation**: CO is slightly lighter than air and can disperse through open windows, doors, or natural airflow. If someone opens a door or window after the person dies—say, a neighbor or family member checking in—the gas could clear out before testing happens.

3. **Delayed Discovery**: If the death isn’t discovered immediately, hours or even days could pass. By then, CO might have dissipated naturally, especially in a drafty or unsealed space.

4. **Testing Limitations**: Firefighters typically use CO detectors, but if the gas has already dispersed below detectable levels (usually around 5-10 parts per million for standard equipment), they might not pick it up. The absence of CO at the time of testing doesn’t mean it wasn’t there earlier at lethal levels.

That said, CO poisoning leaves clues in the body—like cherry-red skin from carboxyhemoglobin in the blood—which a medical examiner could spot during an autopsy. So, while the fire department might not find gas, other evidence could still point to CO as the cause. It’s rare for it to vanish without a trace, but the gas itself can absolutely be gone by the time they arrive if conditions allow it to dissipate.

 

[ekc]

Oh gosh, it’s starting to seem to me like maybe she died or collapsed and he tried to get help but fell. Then the dog died after a while… heartbreaking no matter what happened.

his birthday was jan 30...i wonder if a secret festivity had anything to do with it even though jan 30 was a thursday and they did date nights on fridays...they died way before they were found.... mummification is not overnight...just a thought

 

[imstilla.grandma]

*STATE OF NEW MEXICO
Plaintiff,
Vs.
STATE OF NEW MEXICO
Plaintiff,
Vs.
IN THE MATTER TO THE ISSUANCE OF A SEARCH WARRANT-IN REGARD TO:
A TWO-STORY RESIDENCE THAT HAS OLIVE-GREEN COLORED STUCCO. THERE IS FLAGSTONE NEAR THE FRONT ENTRANCE OF THE RESIDENCE. THE FRONT DOOR IS FACING SOUTHEAST. THE DOOR APPEARS TO BE A GRAND ENTRY WITH GLASS WINDOWS AND BLACK METAL FRAME. THE STUCCO TO THE RIGHT OF THE FRONT ENTRY(NORTHEAST SIDE) IS PINK IN COLOR AND THEN TRANSITIONS TO A TAN IN COLORSTUCCO. THE RESIDENCE IS IDENTIFIED AS 1425 OLD SUNSET TRAIL, SANTA FE, NEW
MEXICO 87501. THE RESIDENCE IS LOCATED IN SANTA FE COUNT, STATE OF
NEWMEXICO.

AFFIDAVIT FOR SEARCH WARRANT

https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/santafenewmexican.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/e9/7e932158-f529-11ef-a999-7baaa12b3817/67c0957ef0a13.pdf.pdf

Download PDF

 

[bmacmillan1]

According to Daily Mail article above, the door to the house was open. One dog was roaming the property. The deceased dog was found "in a closet" 10-15 feet away from Betsy.

Also, it seems like two maintenance workers discovered the bodies, not police.

"Two maintenance workers called Roland Lowe Begay and Jesse Kesler discovered the bodies of Arakawa and her retired Hollywood star husband at their luxurious million Santa Fe mansion Wednesday at 1:46pm Mountain Time.[...] Begay and Kesler told investigators they hadn't seen them for two weeks."

2 weeks? Surely he has a carer and staff coming in to the house on a regular basis, if not daily. Mummified is not instant.
And what about telephone calls - they couldn't have been hermits.

 

[smeck]

Could the deceased dog have eaten some of the pills that were spilled onto the bathroom floor?

 

[Bahshudc]

If a door is left open CO can escape quickly and easily.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Gene Hackman, his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and one of their dogs were found dead in their New Mexico home. Facebook / Animal Rescue, Inc

Gene Hackman’s daughter suspects he and wife died of carbon monoxide poisoning

Police discovered the bodies of Hackman, 95, and 63-year-old classical pianist Betsy Arakawa on Wednesday afternoon.

nypost.com

 

[Bahshudc]

Could the deceased dog have eaten some of the pills that were spilled onto the bathroom floor?

Was thinking this, or as the dog was found in a kennel perhaps there was some sort of gate / leash that meant he couldn’t get out :/

 

[MassGuy]

If a door is left open CO can escape quickly and easily.

Yeah. I’m back on the carbon monoxide bandwagon. Still lots of unanswered questions, but he was found in the kitchen and she was found in a bathroom. This happened suddenly it seems.

 

[Bluebear15]

The pills could be irrelevant and media are using them to be sensationalist. Jmo, moo

 

[IQuestion]

Since some articles mentioned partial mummification, ugh. (sorry) The implication is death occurred many days before (10 or 12 days); explains delay in identification. I looked back on Santa Fe weather and it was far below freezing on Feb.14th & 15th.
RIP to a beautiful, courteous and talented couple.

Santa Fe, NM Past Weather Yesterday | Last 30 days - LocalConditions.com​

Santa Fe, NM past weather data including previous temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, dew point, rain total, and wind conditions.

www.localconditions.com

 

[legomonster]

There is a ton of miscommunication and information all over the place with this case. It's now being called suspicious

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“We’re not going to guess this was an accident or natural causes,” he said. “It wasn’t typical.”

A previous statement sent out early Thursday by the sheriff’s office said that foul play was not suspected.

Scattered Pills Found Near Body of Hackman’s Wife as Inquiry Continues

The sheriff’s office in Santa Fe County, N.M., is investigating after the actor Gene Hackman, his wife and one of their dogs were found dead inside their home.

www.nytimes.com

“Foul play is not suspected as a factor,” authorities confirmed in a statement to NBC News, “however exact cause of death has not been determined.”

However, Sheriff Adan Mendoza did confirm to TMZ that the couple had been dead for “at least a day,” and that two of the couple’s other dogs had been found alive.

Gene Hackman's Daughter Elizabeth Jean Hackman Speaks Out After Death of Actor, Wife and Dog

After Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog were found dead in their home Feb. 26, his daughter Elizabeth Jean Hackman shared her thoughts on what may have happened.

www.eonline.com

 

[LoveyG]

Perhaps his wife had a medical incident, leaving both Gene and the dog to their own (limited) devices? If she cared for both, and both were reliant on her well being, I could see this scenario.

I really hope it wasn't this. How horrifying it would have been for him.

 

[DS2021]

That affidavit states it looks like Gene had suddenly fallen.

These two segments are interesting too

 

[Lucy6226]

Not liking these new details coming out, sounds horrific

 

[imstilla.grandma]

In newly resurfaced footage from a 2004 interview with Larry King, the “French Connection” star, then 74, was asked if he was worried about his health as he got older.

“I try to take care of myself. I don’t have a lot of fears,” Hackman said at the time. “I have the normal fear of passing away – you know, I guess we all think about that, especially when you get to be a certain age.”

Hackman added, “’I want to make sure that my wife and my family are taken care of. Other than that, I don’t have a lot of fears.”

Gene Hackman spoke about ‘fear’ of dying years before his death at 95

“I try to take care of myself. I don’t have a lot of fears.” — Gene Hackman

nypost.com

 

[HmmMysterious]

That affidavit states it looks like Gene had suddenly fallen.

These two segments are interesting too

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Man this is so strange.