Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found mummified at their homes (Image: AP)
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa’s deaths have been ruled as “suspicious”, according to a search warrant.
Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 64, were discovered at their Santa Fe mansion and County Sheriff Adan Mendoza initally csaid there were no immediate signs of foul play.
However, the search warrant affidavit says their deaths are “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation”.
It reads: “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, deputies observed a healthy dog running loose on the property, another healthy dog near the deceased female, a deceased dog laying 10-15 feet from the deceased female in a closet of the bathroom, the heater being moved, the pill bottle being opened and pills scattered next to the female, the male decedent being located in a separate room of the residence, and no obvious signs of a gas leak.”
Gena and Betsy were found in separate rooms by maintenance workers (Image: Getty)
They were said to be discovered by two maintenance workers at 1.46pm Mountain Time on Wednesday, who told investigators they hadn’t seen the couple for weeks.
It added that Arakawa’s body was found in the bathroom with a space heater near her head. Hackman was found in the mudroom with signs of a “sudden fall”.
A deceased dog was located in the bathroom closet 10-15 feet from Arakawa’s body.
The affidavit read: “He advised he suspected the heater could have fallen in the event the female abruptly fell to the ground,” the affidavit says. “He advised he also observed an orange prescription bottle on the counter-top near the deceased female. The prescription bottle appeared opened with pills scattered on the counter-top.”
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There were also signs of decomposition on their bodies, with Arakawa showing signs of bloating on her face and body. Hackman’s body also showed signs of mummification and “obvious signs of death, similar and consistent with the female decedent.”
Hackman man’s daughter has broken her silence on their deaths, confirming she believes they have inhaled toxic fumesm, such as carbon monoxide, in the house.