The tragic deaths of Hollywood icon Gene Hackman and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, continue to spark intrigue and speculation. In the wake of their passing, Hackman’s nephew, Tim Hackman, has emphasized the importance of avoiding baseless theories, urging the public to allow investigators the time to determine the true cause of death rather than jumping to conclusions.

Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 63, were discovered deceased inside their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Wednesday, February 26. The news sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, as the Academy Award-winning actor, known for his legendary performances in The French Connection, Unforgiven, and Mississippi Burning, had long since retired from the public eye, living a quiet and reclusive life with his wife.

Initial reports suggested that no foul play was suspected, but as authorities delved deeper into the case, they determined that enough uncertainty surrounded the circumstances to justify a full investigation. The revelation fueled widespread speculation and, in some cases, sensationalist theories.

In the days following the discovery of the couple’s bodies, social media was flooded with conjecture. Some fans theorized that Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths could have been the result of an accident, while others pointed to more sinister possibilities. Among the most vocal was fellow actor Randy Quaid, who made a shocking statement on X (formerly Twitter), claiming that the couple had been murdered.

“Gene Hackman and his wife are murder victims, some scumbags did it and staged it,” Quaid wrote in a post. “Stop talking about the films he is in, this is how they get away with murdering famous people!”

The bold accusation—offered without evidence—stoked the flames of speculation, drawing both support and criticism. Some dismissed Quaid’s statement as another instance of his controversial and often erratic online presence, while others latched onto his claims, convinced that something more sinister had occurred.

Amid the swirling theories, Hackman’s daughter, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, addressed the tragedy in an interview with TMZ, sharing the family’s initial belief that carbon monoxide poisoning could have been a possible cause.

“The house is fairly modern, built in 2000,” Elizabeth explained. “But we don’t know if there were any issues with gas leaks or if there were any recent service calls to the property.”

This theory was not unfounded, as carbon monoxide poisoning has been responsible for many unexpected deaths, particularly in enclosed spaces with faulty heating or ventilation systems. However, as the investigation progressed, Santa Fe City Fire Department officials ruled out carbon monoxide as a factor after conducting thorough inspections. Tests carried out by the New Mexico Gas Company also failed to detect any gas leaks or evidence of a malfunction in the home’s system.

Despite these findings, uncertainty still looms over what caused the couple’s untimely deaths, and the lack of definitive answers has only fueled more speculation.

Tim Hackman, Gene’s nephew, has attempted to quell the rumors, urging people to exercise patience and caution before drawing conclusions. In a statement to Us Weekly, he stressed that the family is awaiting the results of toxicology reports, which could provide crucial information regarding what truly happened.

“We’re waiting on toxicology,” Tim stated.