Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were dead for at least a day before they were found, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza revealed Thursday.
According to TMZ, deputies responded to the actor’s compound after receiving a call from a neighbor asking for a wellness check. Once inside, they found the couple’s bodies, as well as one of their dogs.
After acquiring a warrant to conduct a more thorough search, they determined that their bodies had been there for at least a day. Two more dogs were found alive in the compound.
Though they are not ruling anything out, the bodies showed no visible trauma.
Mendoza told TMZ that the gas company and fire department also responded to ensure there were no toxic fumes that would endanger the deputies during their search.
Speaking to the outlet, Gene’s oldest daughter, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, revealed that the family believes their dad and stepmom died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Although it’s unclear if there were any gas leaks in the house, Gene and Arakawa had been living in the New Mexico home since 2004 after he retired from Hollywood.
Elizabeth also told the outlet that her dad lived a fairly quiet life, spending his retirement painting and going out with the pianist.
This new development comes less than a day after deputies discovered Gene and Arakawa dead in their home. He was 95 and she was 63.
However, they were not identified until early Thursday morning.
The couple — who had been married since 1991 — were last photographed together almost a year ago while dining at a local restaurant.
The two-time Oscar winner was most famously known for his role in the 1971 movie “The French Connection.” He also starred in 1967’s “Bonnie and Clyde,” “Superman” in 1978, 1992’s “Unforgiven” and the 2001 movie “The Royal Tenenbaums.”
Throughout his career, he received three Golden Globes and the 2003 Cecil B. DeMille Award.
He is survived by his three children: Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58.
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