Gene Hackman’s daughters and granddaughter have shared a heartfelt message after he was found dead alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa.
The 95-year-old actor and his wife, a classical musician, were found dead in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Police are actively investigating the cause of their deaths and a Santa Fe detective described the nature of their passing as ‘suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation' in a search warrant.
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Hackman’s daughters Elizabeth and Leslie, along with his granddaughter Annie, said they are ‘devastated by the loss’ of their loved one.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy. He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss,” Hackman’s daughters and granddaughter said in a statement to People.
Hackman was an Oscar winner who had roles in a number of iconic films including The French Connection, Superman and The Royal Tenenbaums.
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He married Arakawa in 1991. He shared three children with his first wife, Faye Maltese - Christopher Allen Hackman, 63, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, 61, and Leslie Ann Hackman, 57.
New details revealed in search warrant
Hackman was found dead in a mudroom - a room designed for dirty or wet footwear and clothing - while Arakawa was found dead in a bathroom.
Authorities have confirmed that foul play isn't suspected, although they haven't ruled it out.
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In a news conference on Thursday afternoon (27 February), Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said: "It sounds like they had been deceased for quite a while, and I don't want to guess in reference to how long that was."
He added: "There was no immediate sign of foul play. Haven't ruled that out yet.
"This is an investigation, so we're keeping everything on the table."
Police said there was an open prescription bottle along with several pills scattered on the countertop near where Arakawa was found.
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The couple's German Shepherd dog was found dead in a bathroom closet near to Arakawa.
A portable heater, which was found near Arakawa's head, was believed to have been possibly brought down in the event that she abruptly fell to the ground.
Sunglasses and a walking cane were next to Hackman's body with a detective suspecting that the actor had also fallen suddenly.
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In an application for a search warrant, Det. Roy Arndt told a judge the circumstances of the couple's death were 'suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation' because the person who called emergency services found the front door of the property open.
There was no sign of forced entry into the couple's home and nothing inside appeared to be out of place.
Two other dogs owned by the couple were discovered roaming the property, one inside and one outside.
The fire department and the gas company were also called out to check for a natural gas leak, which could cause carbon monoxide poisoning but they didn't detect anything, and there were 'no obvious signs of a gas leak' Arndt added.
He added that he believed the couple had been dead for some time because of Arakawa's 'decomposition' and 'mummification' in the hands and feet, with Hackman found in a similar condition.
Gregory Robinson