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

[Dotta]

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

Santa Fe City Fire personnel and the New Mexico Gas Company tested the couple's home for carbon monoxide and other foreign elements after their bodies were found,
and concluded the area was safe.

'New Mexico Gas Company responded to the residence
and was conducting active testing on the gas line in and around the residence,'
an affidavit stated.

'As of now
there are no signs or evidence indicating there were any problems associated to the pipes
in and around the residence'."

Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa's autopsies are completed

Authorities investigating the mysterious death of legendary actor Gene Hackman, his wife and their dog have concluded autopsies on both victims.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Charlot123]

Thanks. So in fact, a radiator?

It is a fancy thingy, designed to heat a room but effectively heating an area around your feet. You plug it into an electric outlet, and it starts fanning the heat, usually very noisily so in five minutes you have to unplug it. Best used to decorate your window sill. Old gas or kerosene heaters can emit carbon monoxide; electric ones shouldn’t.

 

[Charlot123]

Here’s some photos of the home I found
Goodnight

Thank you!

They have a fireplace. It, too, can be a source of carbon monoxide.

 

[IceIce9]

I'm trying to make sense out of their deaths being suspicious enough for an investigation, yet no foul play was suspected? Can someone help me make sense out of that because I can't.

No obvious signs of foul play like external wounds, bleeding, or signs of struggle.

The investigation is necessary because tox reports, etc. will be needed to determine what happened. What meds were there? Known health issues, and time of death studies. Did they both die at the same time? Or did one die days later?

 

[IceIce9]

I guess my first instinct would be to call 911, hard to imagine someone would take their own life before anything else.
The scattered pills? Maybe she was in a rush? to help him? don't know what they were or who they were prescribed to yet, that might tell us something. (Like Nitro) its very strange, hard to know what happened.

Time of death will shed some light on the tragedy. Which one died first? On the same day or days apart?

 

[IceIce9]

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.

If the CO poisoning had occurred days or weeks ago the bright red might not be apparent at the time the bodies were discovered.

 

[IceIce9]

IMO, I can't imagine 2 people falling to their death at the same time

Time of death determined by autopsy will be important. She could have died first, and Gene fell after.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Well, that's definitely a gas hob in the kitchen.

hob????

 

[IceIce9]

I repeat...Couldn't it be toxic mold in the house?

IMO no. The home was very large, the dog door would have allowed fresh air to enter, a door was partly open, and the home was not old or in poor condition.

Toxic mold likely would have caused neurological symptoms but not sudden death of two people.

JMO

 

[IceIce9]

Im just wondering what they would have needed a space heater for? Were they doing work on something?
Sources of Carbon Monoxide

• Unvented kerosene and gas space heaters.

source :

What is carbon monoxide? | US EPA

DefinitionCarbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, practically odorless, and tasteless gas or liquid. It results from incomplete oxidation of carbon in combustion. Burns with a violet flame. Slightly soluble in water; soluble in alcohol and benzene. Spec

www.epa.gov

Many people have space heaters in their bathrooms because they like it to be warmer than the rest of the house. Sometimes they only turn them on before a shower to warm up the bathroom.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

<modsnip - quoted post was removed>
the mummification and the total lack of contact with anyone is still so hard to comprehend.

 

[Skigh]

Many people have space heaters in their bathrooms because they like it to be warmer than the rest of the house. Sometimes they only turn them on before a shower to warm up the bathroom.

I would have thought that they would have had no worries about the cost of heating their house to be permanently as warm as they needed in all rooms.

 

[iamshadow21]

hob????

The part of the stovetop that you put pots and pans on. That's not electric.

 

[CityKid]

well here's a new twist...sure grieve differently nowadays...

Gene Hackman's daughters seen - as cops probe new theory on death

Gene Hackman's daughter were seen getting out of their vehicle to get food from the all-day breakfast joint Denny's only a day after their father's body was found inside his New Mexico compound.

www.dailymail.co.uk

After each of our parents died, I met up with my brother to get food. Seems pretty normal to me.

 

[IceIce9]

I would have thought that they would have had no worries about the cost of heating their house to be permanently as warm as they needed in all rooms.

Some people like the rest of the house to be cooler than the bathroom, and it has nothing to do with the cost of heating.

For example, i like my bedroom to be cooler but my daughter likes hers to be warmer. She has a space heater in her bedroom. And we have space heaters for our two full baths so we can warm the rooms before we take showers.

I don’t want my whole house to be as warm as the bathrooms. Not a cost issue but a comfort issue.

 

[osu]

Another theory. It’s rare but if the dogs were permitted to roam the property, maybe one became infected (or carried an infected flea inside), which then infected Gene and Betsy?

Sudden onset of severe illness, fever, headache, weakness, they both collapsed and died within the same timeframe. Betsy was going for headache/nausea meds in the bathroom where she collapsed and then Gene collapsed in the mud room later. The dog may have already been kenneled in the closet because it was ill.

Although rare, New Mexico has the most cases of the plague.


March 8, 2024
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) announces a Lincoln County man has died of plague after being hospitalized for the disease. The case is the first human case of plague in New Mexico since 2021 and the first death since 2020.

“We extend our deepest sympathy to the family of the Lincoln County man who succumbed to plague,” said State Public Health Veterinarian Erin Phipps, DVM, MPH. “This tragic incident serves as a clear reminder of the threat posed by this ancient disease and emphasizes the need for heightened community awareness and proactive measures to prevent its spread.”

Plague is a bacterial disease of rodents and is generally spread to humans through the bites of infected fleas. It can also spread by direct contact with infected animals, including rodents, wildlife and pets.

Dogs and cats that are allowed to roam and hunt can bring infected fleas from dead rodents back into the home, putting household members at risk.

NMDOH staff is conducting outreach to area residents. An environmental assessment will also be conducted in the community to look for ongoing risk.

Symptoms of plague in humans include sudden onset of fever, chills, headache and weakness. In most cases there is a painful swelling of the lymph node in the groin, armpit or neck areas. Plague symptoms in cats and dogs include fever, lethargy and loss of appetite. There may be a swelling in the lymph node under the jaw.
~snip

The last human plague case in the state was a Torrance County resident in 2021. In 2020, there were four human plague cases: one in Santa Fe County, two in Torrance County and one fatal case in Rio Arriba County.

Department of Health reports death of man from plague

 

[CityKid]

Mummification usually takes weeks to months, depending on environmental conditions. Given that the maintenance workers hadn't seen them for two weeks, and their bodies were already partially mummified, it’s likely they had been dead for at least two to four weeks, maybe longer. [1] [2] [3]

What we know

• 
  
• 
  
• The parcel of land and residence (1245 Old Sunset Trail) belong to the “Trustee of Edgar Gross.”

[Affadavit]

Snipped by me and bolded the address for focus. GH and BA owned the properties at 1425 and 1424. (Any Better Call Saul fans should get a kick out of the transposed numbers causing confusion.)

Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa Found Dead

Deputies find Oscar-winning actor, classical pianist and dog deceased during wellness check

sfreporter.com

 

[tree1]

What i cant fathom is how 2 dogs survived yet both Gene's body and his wife's were found in a state of decomposition with mummified hands and feet. That points to death quite dome time ago? Such a sad case for all including the dogs

 

[fsngruv]

I thought it strange as well. I can’t imagine being out of touch with your 95 year old father for “a couple of months.”

I took that comment to mean, they were good as in good health, as was mentioned earlier in the article, Gene had undergone surgeries before and health issues but was recently "good". Maybe it's just poor English.
I don't think it's strange at all. Gene Hackman has made statements stating he wasn't as close to his family, and wished he was there more in their young lives. He would leave for a few months to film and then return, so maybe that was a custom they developed over time.
If they are in their 60's, they're pretty much elderly as well, they didn't have the closest relationship with their reclusive father, I think talking to your father every couple months is completely normal. After all, he did have a caretaker that was about the same age as they were.

 

[K9Enzo]

A possible scenario - the wife is deceased before the husband. Her body seems to be in a more advanced stage of decomp. Sadly the deceased dog she wanted near her. Do we know the mental state 95 year old GH was in? Is he aware of what's going ? Maybe he passes away from a sudden heart attack or stroke. He's confused before passing away and he left the door open for the other dogs to leave the house while he was wandering around. None of this is foul play. imo