The chaotic scenes which greeted police as they attended Gene Hackman’s isolated home were laid bare in a four-page search warrant after the death of the couple was announced
The mysterious death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy at their secluded Santa Fe, New Mexico home has left both the police and their family searching for answers. The baffling circumstances surrounding their demise have even seasoned officers puzzled.
A four-page search warrant reveals the disarray that greeted law enforcement upon arrival at the remote residence. Hackman was discovered collapsed in the kitchen, while his wife was found in the bathroom, with a deceased dog in the closet.
The document suggests numerous potential causes for the couple’s tragic end. Here, here are the main theories and their implications…
Did Hackman Fall? Police “observed a pair of feet and legs on the ground near the kitchen area” which were identified as Hackman’s.
The report indicates he was in “the mud room” when discovered. It states: “The deceased male who was found wearing grey sweat pants, a blue long-sleeve t-shirt, brown slippers, and walking-cane,” reports the Mirror.
Photos of Hackman from last year depict him leaning on his wife for support in Santa Fe, his walking cane close by. It’s worth noting that at 95-years-old, he would have been prone to falls. But why was the house door left open?
Two maintenance workers discovered the front door slightly open, but police found no evidence of forced entry. It’s unclear how long the door had been ajar, and one of the dogs was found in the garden, possibly having pushed its way out.
Could it have been a burglary gone wrong? Police say there was no sign of anything missing, and other buildings on the property were secure. However, they still consider the open door suspicious and worthy of further investigation.
“There was no indication of anything that was missing from the home or disturbed that would be an indication that there was a crime that had occurred.”
Did the circumstances of Betsy’s death suggest she might have fallen? A black heater was found near her head, which the attending officer “suspected…could have fallen in the event the female abruptly fell to the ground.”
The officer also “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.”
Authorities will have to wait for the post-mortem results, which could take weeks, to determine if the medication in her system may have caused her death. If she did fall, this could explain why the pills were scattered.
But why was the dog in the closet? Perhaps the most puzzling aspect is the discovery of a deceased German-Shepard dog. The report details how officers “then observed found a deceased brown in color German-Shepard canine. The deceased canine was located approximately 10-15 feet from the deceased female in a closet of the bathroom.”
The report doesn’t specify whether the closet door was open or closed, but it does confirm that the bathroom door was open.
The dog’s remains were mummified. When was the last time Hackman and his wife had contact with anyone? Both bodies were mummified, indicating they had been there for quite some time.
Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated yesterday that they could have been dead for days or even weeks when their bodies were discovered. He mentioned that determining who they last spoke to was “a challenge because they were very private individuals” and added that autopsy results could take months.
This seems to contradict information in the search warrant which suggests that two maintenance workers were the last to have contact with the Hackmans. The report states “they both advised it was approximately two (2) weeks prior. Both individuals advised they rarely saw the owners (of the residence ) when conducting routine maintenance on the home. Both indicated they maintained contact with the homeowners through text message and phone calls and primarily communicated with the female homeowner.”
It remains unclear whether this was face-to-face contact or via text message. One of Hackman’s daughters confessed she hadn’t seen her father in months.
The mystery deepens as questions arise about the health of two dogs found at a grim scene. The report reveals, “the healthy dogs was initially observed near the deceased female (inside the bathroom) and the other healthy dog was observed outside the residence.”
This begs the question: if they were in good nick, who’s been feeding them, or are the deaths more recent than first thought?
Could it have been a deadly carbon monoxide leak? The Santa Fe City Fire Department conducted tests to see if there were any tell-tale signs of such a leak or poisoning. The findings?
“He advised the fire department did not locate signs of a carbon monoxide leak or poisoning….as of now, there are no signs or evidence indicating there were any problems associated to the pipes in and around the residence.”
However, a detective pointed out that victims of gas leaks or carbon monoxide might not show immediate symptoms, so carbon monoxide and other toxicology test results are eagerly awaited.
And why were items that could inflict blunt force trauma taken into custody? The report notes there were “no immediate signs or indications of blunt force trauma” yet the police aren’t taking any chances. They’re set to “seize any blunt force objects in the event there is any indication of blunt force trauma” following a pathologist’s input.
Despite this, Mr Mendoza confirmed just yesterday that there was “no indication of a struggle.”
So what makes the coppers suspect foul play? The plot thickens as they continue to piece together this puzzling case.
They cite a variety of reasons including the “unsecured and opened door, (how) 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.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
