A gas leak has been discovered at the house of Gene Hackman.
The legendary actor, 95, was found dead at his Santa Fe home in New Mexico last week with his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, and one of their dogs. Their bodies were discovered in separate rooms of their 2,300 square foot ranch, decomposed and partially mummified, with no obvious signs of trauma.
It had been stated there was no sign of a gas leak at the property. A search warrant stated the local utility found no sign of a leak and the fire department had detected no indication of a carbon monoxide leak.
However, it’s now been emerged the gas company aiding the investigation into the mysterious deaths of Gene and his wife discovered a “miniscule leak” in the mansion. They have reportedly determined this not to be “lethal”.
(Image: (Image: AP))
The New Mexico Gas Company made “no significant findings” of gas leaks or carbon monoxide in the home, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office told the Daily Mail. However, the company did flag five “red tags” during their investigation – one of these was for a minor leak at the stove burner which registered “0.03 per cent gas in the air”.
This, however, is considered to “Not be a lethal amount”. Cops added: “The other four red tags were for code enforcement violations – not involving gas leaks or carbon monoxide – involving a water heater and gas log lighters installed in three fireplaces.”
An autopsy has been performed and “no external trauma” was found on the bodies of either Gene or Betsy – further toxicology results could take months to be released. The bodies also tested negative for carbon monoxide poisoning, despite a previous theory this could have caused their deaths.
It was found the couple died around 10 days before their bodies were found. Hackman’s pacemaker last recorded an event on February 17, suggesting he was lying dead at the home in the ensuing days.
Besty was found lying on the bathroom floor of the property, near to some scattered pills, and Hackman was in a mud room near to the couple’s kitchen. Detectives believe Hackman could have died of a sudden fall as a walking cane was found next to his body, as well as a pair of sunglasses.
They also suspect Betsy may have fallen too as a portable heater was next to Betsy’s head, which could have been brought down if she, too, had fallen suddenly. Santa Fe sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed the pills found near Betsy’s body are a “significant [piece of] evidence” and are “of concern”.
The search warrant stated the prescription pills were common medications for thyroid and high blood pressure. Mendoza said the pills have been handed over to a medical expert.
The deaths, according to the police warrant, are “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation” as the front door of Hackman’s property was open when the worker discovered their bodies. However, there was no evidence of forced entry into the property and nothing seemed out of place.
Cops also said there was “no immediate sign of foul play”. At a press conference on Friday (February 28), Sheriff Adan Mendoza said: “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.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
