Gene Hackman’s daughters Elizabeth and Leslie have been pictured for the first time since his death, as the family revealed they suspect carbon monoxide poisoning
Just a day after the death of Hollywood legend Gene Hackman, his daughters Elizabeth and Leslie were seen looking downcast. The pair were spotted exiting a Denny’s in Burbank, California, following the sudden loss of their father.
They appeared understandably upset as they faced the world after the heartbreaking news. Gene passed away on February 26, aged 95, with officials listing it as suspicious, with a number of unanswered questions still hanging over the sad case.
Both he and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, were discovered deceased alongside their pet dog at their Santa Fe, New Mexico home. The couple were found in the early stages of “mummification”.
Leslie was seen wearing a pink T-shirt and black jeans, while Elizabeth donned a blue zip-up hoodie and denim jeans. Both women wore sombre expressions, with Elizabeth shielding her eyes with sunglasses. The late actor leaves behind three children: Leslie, Elizabeth, and son Christopher.
As more information about the tragic incident comes to light, the family has suggested carbon monoxide poisoning may have been the cause, reports the Mirror.
Elizabeth told TMZ that while the exact cause remains unknown, they suspect toxic fumes could have been a factor. However, officials reported no obvious gas issues or smell, and authorities have found no signs of foul play, with Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirming the investigation is ongoing.
The house, built in 2000, is relatively modern, with no current reports of previous gas leaks or service calls.
Cops rushed to a residence on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park around 1:45pm on Wednesday after concerns were raised, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office reported. In a twist disclosed to US broadcaster KOB 4 by the sheriff’s team, it was a neighbour’s call that sparked the check-up on silver screen legend Gene Hackman and his wife.
As per People, Sheriff Mendoza stated that following the welfare check which led to the tragic discovery of the couple’s deceased bodies, additional emergency personnel were called to the scene to clear any potentially dangerous fumes before officers proceeded. Despite police being at the scene early Wednesday afternoon, it wasn’t until 12:30am Thursday that identities of the deceased, Hollywood star Gene, aged 95, and his spouse Betsy, along with a dog, were confirmed, as further detailed by the outlet.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office declared: “On February 26, 2025 at approximately 1:45pm, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to an address on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park where Gene Hackman, 95 and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, and a dog were found deceased.”
They added: “Foul play is not suspected as a factor in those deaths at this time however exact cause of death has not been determined. This is an active and ongoing investigation by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.”
Despite his stardom, Gene’s family life was far from perfect, with a notably tense rapport with his kin that he ultimately came to regret. In a poignant admission during a 2000 chinwag with The Irish Independent, Gene let on: “I couldn’t always be home with them when they were growing up and then, living in California, they’ve had my success always hanging over their heads.”
Meanwhile, Leslie confided to MailOnline that she’d not spoken with her old man in “a few months” prior to his passing.
She said: “We were close. I hadn’t talked to them for a couple months, but everything was normal and everything was good.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
