Actor Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead (Image: Getty Images)
Further new details have emerged surrounding the sudden deaths of silver screen icon . The New York Times has disclosed that the pair were found lifeless in separate areas of their Santa Fe home, prompting a sheriff on the case to label the scene as “not typical”.
A pet dog was also discovered dead within its enclosure, while two others were found alive, reports the US media outlet. County Sheriff Adan Mendoza has confirmed the absence of a farewell note and any clear signs of injury on the couple.
“At this stage in the process there isn’t anything obvious like that,” he remarked. “The autopsy is going to tell us more.”
Prior to law enforcement entering the premises, safety inspections were carried out by both fire brigade and gas company personnel, as verified by the sheriff’s office. Sheriff Mendoza further commented: “We’re not going to guess this was an accident or natural causes. It wasn’t typical.”
As speculation mounts among film aficionados globally about the events leading up to the tragedy at the couple’s New Mexico home, detectives continue their thorough probe with no current evidence of criminal activity, reports .
Gene was an actor for many years (Image: 1996 Getty Images)
Sheriff Mendoza has offered reassurance, stating: “I want to assure the community and neighbourhood that there’s no immediate danger to anyone.”
The Hackman family suspects that the couple may have been overcome by noxious gases. Elizabeth Jean Hackman, the actor’s daughter, expressed her uncertainty regarding the cause of death.
The cause of death remains unclear, but it is thought that carbon monoxide poisoning may be to blame. Tragedy struck on Wednesday afternoon when police discovered the bodies of the renowned actor and his wife at their home in the Hyde Park area of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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Police are currently investigating the star’s death (Image: Getty)
Hackman, who had shunned the limelight for a quieter life in New Mexico since the early 2000s, was found dead alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog.
A welfare check by a concerned neighbour led officers to the secluded residence, where the couple’s bodies were discovered. Their identities were officially confirmed by Thursday morning, sparking an outpouring of tributes from the film industry.
Stars have paid tribute to Hackman, with Oscar nominee Antonio Banderas describing his death as a “very sad day for cinema’s family”.
Banderas wrote on : “A very sad day for cinema’s family. Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have passed away. My deepest condolences to friends, family and cinema lovers. RIP.”
Francis Ford Coppola, the acclaimed American filmmaker, has paid a heartfelt tribute to Gene Hackman, describing him as “inspiring” and “magnificent”.
Coppola, who worked with Hackman on the 1974 classic The Conversation, wrote on : “The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration.
“Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity. I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.”