Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa. Credit / Getty Images
The circumstances surrounding the death of Gene Hackman and his wife, both who showed signs of decomposition, appears to be “suspicious” and more “foul” than originally suspected, authorities say.

The February 26 death of legendary actor Gene Hackman, who was found in his Santa Fe home along with his deceased wife and dog, is raising questions as authorities now consider it “suspicious.”

The two-time Academy Award-winning actor was found dead alongside his beloved wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their pet dog in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home.

With decades in the limelight, Hackman’s career spanned unforgettable roles in The French Connection, Unforgiven, and The Royal Tenenbaums.

And now, the sudden passing of the French Connection star has left fans and experts alike questioning whether there’s more to the story than meets the eye.

‘Door ajar’
According to Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department, around 1:45 p.m., neighborhood security entered the home – the door was “ajar,” police say – and discovered the bodies of Hackman, 95, Arakawa, 63, and their pup, in the “large Southwestern-style ranch in a gated community” where they lived.

Earlier, authorities suggested that “foul play is not suspected as a factor in those deaths.” However, in a press conference, Sheriff Adan Mendoza later clarified there was no “immediate sign of foul play” and the “exact cause of death has not been determined,” leading to an in-depth probe.

The sheriff’s office applied for a search warrant, claiming the deaths were “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation.”

What was found
The search warrant application reveals some intriguing details about the discovery of Hackman’s body, raising further questions about the circumstances of his passing.

The Unforgiven star was found on the ground of what’s “believed to be a mudroom,” a cane and sunglasses on the ground near him.

Meanwhile, Arakawa was discovered in the bathroom, with an open prescription bottle that had emptied its contents over the counter.

The affidavit also suggests that both Hackman and his wife appeared to have collapsed suddenly, and adding yet another layer of mystery to the case, Mendoza said the couple “had been deceased for quite a while.”

When a reporter at the press conference asked if the couple had been dead a couple of weeks, Mendoza clarified the time is undetermined and explained that police are still trying to piece together the pieces.

Decomposed
Both Hackman and his wife showed decomposition, while Arakawa showed “obvious signs of death, body decomposition, bloating in her face and mumification in both hands and feet.”

One German Shepherd dog was found in the bathroom with his mom, lying “in a closet,” about 10 to 15 feet from Arakawa.

Mendoza said two other dogs were found “healthy” and alive – one “initially observed” near Arakawa in the bathroom while the other was outside.

Despite the unusual scene, authorities noted that neither Hackman nor Arakawa displayed any signs of blunt force trauma and that there were no visible signs of forced entry, ruling out an obvious break-in.

Authorities explain in the affidavit: “At this time; the manner and cause of death pertaining to Eugene “Gene” Allen Hackman and Betsy Arakawa passing is unknown. Affiant believes that the circumstances surrounding the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation because the reporting party found the front door of the residence unsecured and opened…and no obvious signs of a gas leak.”

As investigations continue, authorities are working to determine what really happened in Hackman’s final moments. When the autopsy results become available, more information surrounding the deaths will be revealed.

Gene Hackman’s death is a tragic loss to the world of cinema. While his legacy remains unshaken, the mysterious circumstances surrounding his passing leave many unanswered questions. As investigations continue, fans and authorities alike are searching for the truth.

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