Police admit investigation error in Gene Hackman and wife’s deaths
Gene Hackman’s nephew, Tim Hackman, recently addressed the theories surrounding the deaths of the actor and his wife.
Actor Gene Hackman’s nephew, Tim Hackman, recently addressed the various theories surrounding the deaths of his uncle and his wife.
Hollywood megastar Gene and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead at their home in New Mexico last week. Current speculations suggest that carbon monoxide poisoning or cardiac arrest could be the cause, but Tim has urged caution and emphasised the need for a full investigation before jumping to conclusions.
Tim, the son of Gene’s brother Richard Hackman, explained that the family was still awaiting the results of a toxicology report. “We’re waiting on toxicology. That will tell us everything. It’s hard to theorize. There are lots of theories out there and I don’t want to speculate. It’s easy to speculate negative theories,” Tim told Us Weekly. Tim went on to share the family’s desire to maintain a positive outlook as they wait for clarity. He added: “The family wants to keep it positive for now and when we know the truth we will deal with it.”
Tim’s comments come as the police investigating the case admit they made a significant error while investigating the deaths of the Oscar winner and his wife. Gene, Betsy and one of their dogs were found dead inside their home on February but cops initially misidentified which of their pooches had died in its kennel.
According to USA Today, the dog - one of three the couple owned - that died was 12-year-old Zinna, a reddish Australian Kelpie mixed breed. Police initially named the deceased dog as Gene and Betsy’s German Shepherd Bear. Bear is reportedly alive and with the couple’s other surviving dog. It’s not know how the dog was misidentified in the initial police report.
A report stated that both Gene and Betsy’s bodies were found ’mummified’ and in a state of decomposition. It’s since emerged that Hackman’s pacemaker last picked up a recording on February 17, hinting that he lay dead in his home for 11 days. A male maintenance worker found the bodies of Gene and his wife when he arrived at the property to carry out some routine maintenance. He made an urgent 911 call but did not go into the house, as when asked if they were alive or breathing, he told the operator: "I have no idea, I have no idea, I’m not inside the house, it’s closed. I see she’s laying down on the floor."
Santa Fe Sheriff Adam Mendoza told the Today Show that a bottle of prescription medication found at the Hollywood legend’s home was now being treated as a "very important" piece of evidence, adding that it "is something of concern". Speaking on Friday, Mendoza said the retrieved pills had been given to the local medical examiner’s office to aid them determining a cause of death. However, it could be months until the toxicology results come back.
Gene - who died at the age of 95 - had a career that spanned over six decades, with the star receiving two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, four Golden Globes, a SAG Award as well as the Silver Bear. He known for his roles in The French Connection, Unforgiven, I Never Sang for My Father and Bonnie and Clyde amongst others. In his later life, he retired from acting and lived out his days with his wife Betsy at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The pair were rarely spotted out of their home but in one of his final pictured outings, the actor was seen outside a 7-Eleven store looking frail, carrying a coffee and an apple pie. Hackman is survived by his three children - Christopher Allen, Leslie Anne and Elizabeth Jean - who are set to be questioned by authorities so the couple’s final days can be pieced together.
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