Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, along with one of their dogs, were found dead Wednesday at their home in New Mexico. While there were no visible signs of foul play, investigators have now deemed their deaths “suspicious” after finding “no obvious signs of a gas leak” and the front door of their home “unsecured and opened.”
According to affidavit released by New Mexico authorities on Thursday, Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 63, and their dog were found by two maintenance workers.
Arakawa’s body was found in the bathroom with a space heater near her head, possibly indicating that it “could have fallen in the event the female abruptly fell to the ground.” Additionally, “a prescription bottle appeared opened with pills scattered on the counter-top.” The deceased dog was located in the bathroom closet 10-15 feet from Arakawa’s body.
Arakawa’s body “showed obvious signs of death, body decomposition, bloating in her face and mumification in both hands and feet,” according to affidavit.
Hackman body was found in the mud room and “showed obvious signs of death, similar and consistent with the female decedent.”
Investigators found no obvious signs of a gas leak, including carbon monoxide, and the couple’s two other dogs were discovered alive and healthy—one inside the house and one outside.
The maintenance workers who initially found the bodies said they hadn’t seen the couple in two weeks. When they arrived to their home, they said they found the door “ajar,” but investigators found no signs of a forced entry.
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