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

[kurtneverdied]

Agreed.
They were saying that the pills were spilt not split, as far as I have read.

Is there another meaning other than split in half?
There is a reason ppl buy the sun to sat medication containers.

 

[friendlysleuther]

IMO, (as i have discussed earlier) -- I think this may be more of a case of poisoning via food rather than carbon monoxide.

Let's be real-- If this is NOT a natural cause of death.. Who profits?

Now, at 95 years old- It's common sense that he wasn't going to make it for too much longer. However, his wife, on the other hand---

IMO, I would ASSUME* his will / money/ assets, were to go to his wife-- whom he does not have children with.

just saying..

 

[friendlysleuther]

Is there another meaning other than split in half?
There is a reason ppl buy the sun to sat medication containers.

Here's the thing-- They never said they were s-p-l-i-t
Rather, s-p-i-l-t , as in-
tipped over/ knocked over/ thrown

 

[kurtneverdied]

We don't know what she took or what it was. It could have been half the bottles of other things somewhere else in the house then she went to bedroom for more. All we know is medication was found scattered and some of it was likely prescription.

 

[Sunshynn]

Is there another meaning other than split in half?
There is a reason ppl buy the sun to sat medication containers.

SPLIT: break or cause to break forcibly into parts, especially into halves or along the grain:
"the ice cracked and split"
"split and toast the muffins"

SPILT: The word "spilt" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "spill," which means to cause or allow liquid to fall, flow, or run out accidentally or unintentionally. It is often used in the phrase "don't cry over spilt milk," meaning not to worry about something that has already happened.

 

[LoveyG]

IMO: Without knowing her health or what the spilled medication was, could she have been experiencing a headache she was trying to medicate? Palpitations? Fibrillation? Was Gene, found with his cane and sunglasses (is that right?), trying to get help for her? Was he trying to get help for himself? Was the moved heater Gene's attempt to make Betsy comfortable while he tried to sort out what to do? Perhaps befuddled about how to go about it?

He looked so frail in that last photo of them out together. I am so hoping they dropped at the exact same time.

 

[Quill]

• Neither firefighters nor the gas company could find signs of a gas leak
• Front door was open
• 2 dogs were alive

BBM
I saw that too, but when I see that I think of natural gas, propane etc. I would like to know more about what they did to check for carbon monoxide leaking. That might be a bit more complicated to find. I don't think that is a run-through type of inspection with detectors. I think that has got to be a more thorough inspection of every appliance that uses gas in the house. Also, as a gas cook top user, if the vent-a-hood is not being used or properly vented (let's say clogged or filters very dirty) that could be a hidden source. Things like that come to mind. They would be obvious to firefighters inspection such a scene. IMO, it might take a more thorough and more technical type of inspection to uncover.

 

[kurtneverdied]

Spilt not split. Ah darn I need glasses. My bad

 

[tlcya]

Denise Avila, a sheriff’s office spokesperson, said there was no indication they had been shot or had any wounds.

The New Mexico Gas Co. tested the gas lines in and around the home after the bodies were discovered, according to the warrant. At the time, it didn’t find any signs of problems and the Fire Department found no signs of a carbon monoxide leak or poisoning. A sheriff’s detective wrote that there were no obvious signs of a gas leak, but he noted that people exposed to gas leaks or carbon monoxide might not show signs of poisoning.
How did Gene Hackman die? No sign of gas leaks in actor, wife, dog’s deaths

There are no signs of a carbon monoxide leak, trouble with the pipes, forced entry or blunt-force trauma, the affidavit said, nor are there signs that any belongings were rifled through.
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/27/nx-s1-5312059/gene-hackman-death-betsy-arakawa

The legendary actor's daughter, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, tells TMZ they’re not sure, but they think the cause might be from toxic fumes.
https://www.tmz.com/2025/02/27/gene-hackman-family-suspects-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-death/

Despite the family’s carbon monoxide poisoning theory, the affidavit stated that there was “no obvious sign of a gas leak.”
https://nypost.com/2025/02/27/enter...ver-death-of-their-dad-and-grandpa-statement/

I honestly don't know what to think at this point. My first thought on hearing of the deaths was carbon monoxide poisoning. My second was murder suicide. Now with no signs of foul play, no injuries, no sign of gas leak, I am just waiting to see if more info comes out.

 

[kurtneverdied]

Are we certain about the front door open as I'm sure I heard on the 911 call that the person who called couldn't get inside. I assumed though he was freaking out and didn't want to go anywhere near the bodies.

 

[IceIce9]

It's a gated community, so it's very possible there is a central mail/package room and nothing would be delivered straight to the homes.

Even so, I would think that someone would notice that their mail and packages weren’t being picked up.

 

[Quill]

One thing. There was a doggie door. But I don't know if a dog would be savvy enough to realize they needed fresh air and quickly.

Anyway I don't think it was CO. jmo

A dog is going to know it before a human would.

 

[iamshadow21]

Even so, I would think that someone would notice that their mail and packages weren’t being picked up.

They might not have got much, or may not have regularly picked it up. When I lived somewhere I had to pick it up, on a good week, I went in once a week. If I was having a bad week anxiety wise and nothing important was due, it could be a couple of weeks. Ditto if we went away to visit family.

MOO

 

[IceIce9]

Most logical explanation is she has taken the tablets to kill herself. Why? Well maybe she found her husband dead and couldn't live anymore. Next most logical is she took her life and gave him some tablets at the same time. Perhaps he'd taken a sudden turn for the worst like dementia and she couldn't take it that he couldn't remember her and decided to end them both. As for the dog. Probably eat one of the tablets.

It would depend on what the prescription pills were. They may never release that information.

 

[Sunshynn]

Are we certain about the front door open as I'm sure I heard on the 911 call that the person who called couldn't get inside. I assumed though he was freaking out and didn't want to go anywhere near the bodies.

According to the search warrant, yes, the door was ajar/unsecured.

 

[friendlysleuther]

BBM
I saw that too, but when I see that I think of natural gas, propane etc. I would like to know more about what they did to check for carbon monoxide leaking. That might be a bit more complicated to find. I don't think that is a run-through type of inspection with detectors. I think that has got to be a more thorough inspection of every appliance that uses gas in the house. Also, as a gas cook top user, if the vent-a-hood is not being used or properly vented (let's say clogged or filters very dirty) that could be a hidden source. Things like that come to mind. They would be obvious to firefighters inspection such a scene. IMO, it might take a more thorough and more technical type of inspection to uncover.

Yeah, we discussed this a lot last night--

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning- What doesn't add-up

• 2 dogs to be alive and only 1 deceased: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Affects All Living Beings the Same Way

Testing

• Deputy Thomas and Det. Joel Cano advised Santa Fe City Fire Department responded to the location and conducted testing to determine if there were signs of a possible carbon monoxide leak (or poisoning). He advised the fire department did not locate signs of a carbon monoxide leak or poisoning.
• New Mexico Gas Company responded the residence and was conducting active testing on the gas line in and around the residence. As of now, there are no signs or evidence indicating there were any problems associated to the pipes in and around the residence.

If it was Carbon Monoxide, they will determine this with the autopsy. However, IMO, highly unlikely.
AFFIDAVIT

 

[NuttMegg]

According to the search warrant, yes, the door was ajar/unsecured.

The front door was ajar, unsecured?

 

[IceIce9]

I don't have a doggy door, but could they mean when they say that the door was 'unsecured and open' that the doggy door was accessible.
Is there even a way to 'lock' a doggy door?

You can lock a doggy door but apparently this one was unlocked because one dog was found outside.

Most people don’t lock doggy doors if they are home, they want the dogs to be able to go in and out which is why they have them installed.

 

[friendlysleuther]

Denise Avila, a sheriff’s office spokesperson, said there was no indication they had been shot or had any wounds.

The New Mexico Gas Co. tested the gas lines in and around the home after the bodies were discovered, according to the warrant. At the time, it didn’t find any signs of problems and the Fire Department found no signs of a carbon monoxide leak or poisoning. A sheriff’s detective wrote that there were no obvious signs of a gas leak, but he noted that people exposed to gas leaks or carbon monoxide might not show signs of poisoning.
How did Gene Hackman die? No sign of gas leaks in actor, wife, dog’s deaths

There are no signs of a carbon monoxide leak, trouble with the pipes, forced entry or blunt-force trauma, the affidavit said, nor are there signs that any belongings were rifled through.
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/27/nx-s1-5312059/gene-hackman-death-betsy-arakawa

The legendary actor's daughter, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, tells TMZ they’re not sure, but they think the cause might be from toxic fumes.
https://www.tmz.com/2025/02/27/gene-hackman-family-suspects-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-death/

Despite the family’s carbon monoxide poisoning theory, the affidavit stated that there was “no obvious sign of a gas leak.”
https://nypost.com/2025/02/27/enter...ver-death-of-their-dad-and-grandpa-statement/

I honestly don't know what to think at this point. My first thought on hearing of the deaths was carbon monoxide poisoning. My second was murder suicide. Now with no signs of foul play, no injuries, no sign of gas leak, I am just waiting to see if more info comes out.

Darn, you beat me to it! I wish i had seen this sooner, ha!

 

[friendlysleuther]

The front door was ajar, unsecured?

Yes...
"When Deputy Thomas and Barron arrived, Deputy Thomas indicated he spoke to two individuals(one of which was the reporting party) who found and located the front door of the residence to be opened/ajar."

"Deputy Thomas told Affiant after speaking to the two males he and Deputy Barron then walked to the front of the residence and found the front door ajar. He advised he did not observe any signs of forced entry into the home."

"(...) the reporting party found the front door of the residence unsecured and opened"
AFFIDAVIT