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

[LadyL]

I’ve read most of the thread, but not sure I’ve read confirmation that there was no sign of a burglary or robbery. Has it been stated? I realize they said foul play not suspected, but they may have been referring to the state of the victims’ bodies only. I assume there would have been valuables, and possibly cash, in the home. Not that LE would know what those valuables would be, to even know they could be missing.

did you quote the wrong post? I didn't say anything about a burglary or robbery?

 

[JDG]

They didn't find carbon monoxide in the air, but that doesn't mean it wasn't there at the time.

I posted this earlier in regards to CO not being detected:

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.

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.

Just wanted to say, if you find someone who has passed or been poisoned from CO, it is quite apparent. No professional needed to figure it out, the person/corpse is bright red.

 

[NuttMegg]

I would think if the cause was food poisoning, there would be evidence of vomiting. (I've been there....)
It's possible there was but has not been disclosed.

Something, imo made him tumble unexpectedly as was described with sunglasses tossed off head. And she falling too. I didn't read of any discrepancy in body decomposition as someone else mentioned. Indicating that one passed substantially earlier than the other.

I haven't seen a reference to vomit either. Too Bizarre. Maybe time to apply Occam's razor.

 

[ttjo]

Just wanted to say, if you find someone who has passed or been poisoned from CO, it is quite apparent. No professional needed to figure it out, the person/corpse is bright red.

wow so what does that say about this incident? I haven't read that they were bright red?

 

[MassGuy]

wow so what does that say about this incident? I haven't read that they were bright red?

Nothing probably, because of the passage of time. These bodies were something like two weeks old, and quite a bit of decomposition had taken place. So those signs likely wouldn't have been there.

 

[ttjo]

Nothing probably, because of the passage of time. These bodies were something like two weeks old, and quite a bit of decomposition had taken place. So those signs likely wouldn't have been there.

so much to know, where is Joseph Scott Morgan when you need him ?

 

[MassGuy]

so much to know, where is Joseph Scott Morgan when you need him ?

Dr. Baden opined earlier that a car may have been left running in the garage, which would explain how they could die from carbon monoxide, and there be no trace left in the house (that car would run out of gas obviously).

I suspect he doesn't know the layout of the house though, so who knows if this is even feasible. Something like that makes the most sense to me at this time though.

 

[slowpoke]

I just saw this.

Preliminary autopsies performed on Gene Hackman and wife find no external injuries following their ‘suspicious’ deaths

(CNN) — Initial findings from preliminary autopsies performed on Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, show there was “no external trauma to either individual,” the Santa Fe

www.wtva.com

Interesting they’re reporting no external injuries. According to the search warrant, the Deputy Thomas seemed to think both Betsy and Gene fell to the floor (she may have “abruptly fell”, he may have “suddenly fallen” was the words used). Wouldn’t there likely be some type of injuries for sudden or abrupt falls?

(Also, icky to think about, but no external injuries at least means their dogs that survived must have found other food sources, IYGWIM. )

Link to search warrant: https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/c4354003f4641340/ff88733d-full.pdf

 

[Warwick7]

I am just hearing about this now. This is awful. See that there are 22 Pages dedicated to this. Eventually I will go back and start from the beginning, however, whatever happened it cannot escape the fact that a dog was in side a closet dead

 

[LadyL]

Well, he probably knows that 2 people live there. I think he saw the wife through the window. If he knew them, he would know Mr. Hackman is 95 so where would he be without her.

Moo

the article said he could not provide details such as ages and genders so I wonder if he knew them at all

 

[NuttMegg]

I saw one account mentioning they acquired 3 German Shepherds in 1999. 26 year old dogs? The article implies they are the same 3, but imo impossible.

https://paradepets.com/dogs/gene-hackmans-beloved-german-shepherds-had-sweetest-adoption-story

 

[acutename]

Dr. Baden opined earlier that a car may have been left running in the garage, which would explain how they could die from carbon monoxide, and there be no trace left in the house (that car would run out of gas obviously).

I suspect he doesn't know the layout of the house though, so who knows if this is even feasible. Something like that makes the most sense to me at this time though.

the report says the garage was locked but no idea if it was attached to the house

 

[ErinC]

I saw one account mentioning they acquired 3 German Shepherds in 1999. 26 year old dogs? The article implies they are the same 3, but imo impossible.

https://paradepets.com/dogs/gene-hackmans-beloved-german-shepherds-had-sweetest-adoption-story

It can't have been the same ones. I would guess that maybe they acquired the initial three, then found when the original ones passed that they liked having that number around. Also, a slightly related thought I had- 3 GSDs is an awful, awful lot of dog for one very elderly person and one aging person to handle. That is an energetic breed that requires proper handling and training. I don't mean to say that I think the dogs caused this in any way, but it does sort of put me on team "Betsy had some sort of medical event, Gene tried to go for help and was bowled over by a dog". MOO

 

[acutename]

I saw one account mentioning they acquired 3 German Shepherds in 1999. 26 year old dogs? The article implies they are the same 3, but imo impossible.

https://paradepets.com/dogs/gene-hackmans-beloved-german-shepherds-had-sweetest-adoption-story

I do not understand the dead one in the bathroom closet... maybe they kept replacing the original 3 ?

 

[NuttMegg]

I am just hearing about this now. This is awful. See that there are 22 Pages dedicated to this. Eventually I will go back and start from the beginning, however, whatever happened it cannot escape the fact that a dog was in side a closet dead

I wonder about that. I've seen "closet", but some reports say kennel, this one says:

"That dog was in a crate or a kennel"

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

 

[LadyL]

I am just hearing about this now. This is awful. See that there are 22 Pages dedicated to this. Eventually I will go back and start from the beginning, however, whatever happened it cannot escape the fact that a dog was in side a closet dead

they said in a kennel in the closet off the bathroom - the kennel could've been his safe space
accounts I've read said they loved their dogs

 

[ttjo]

Ask and you shall receive: Joseph Scott Morgan on fox news
Investigation into Gene Hackman’s death must be ‘very thorough’: Expert | Fox News Video

 

[NuttMegg]

It can't have been the same ones. I would guess that maybe they acquired the initial three, then found when the original ones passed that they liked having that number around. Also, a slightly related thought I had- 3 GSDs is an awful, awful lot of dog for one very elderly person and one aging person to handle. That is an energetic breed that requires proper handling and training. I don't mean to say that I think the dogs caused this in any way, but it does sort of put me on team "Betsy had some sort of medical event, Gene tried to go for help and was bowled over by a dog". MOO

Ms Arakawa appears petite. And yes GSD are huge. I hadn't thought about him getting run over by a dog, maybe 2.

But it has happened to me twice, exuberant big mascotas jumping on me from behind, in fun. Me falling flat on my face.

Would be much more force if they were feeling fear.

 

[acutename]

they said in a kennel in the closet off the bathroom - the kennel could've been his safe space
accounts I've read said they loved their dogs

true- and we do not know when the incidents happened.... could be the dog slept in the crate and they were letting him in or out....

 

[Quill]

Interesting they’re reporting no external injuries. According to the search warrant, the Deputy Thomas seemed to think both Betsy and Gene fell to the floor (she may have “abruptly fell”, he may have “suddenly fallen” was the words used). Wouldn’t there likely be some type of injuries for sudden or abrupt falls?

(Also, icky to think about, but no external injuries at least means their dogs that survived must have found other food sources, IYGWIM. )

Link to search warrant: https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/c4354003f4641340/ff88733d-full.pdf

Yes, I find that interesting, too. Most of what I have read says they were positioned like people who had collapsed or fell. I was waiting to see if there were apparent injuries from falling such as head wounds, broken arms etc. That's why I thought the article was of interest.