Fire chief gives Gene Hackman update as he shares new information on his tragic death alongside wife
Further details about the mysterious deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been revealed.
Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya has shared an update regarding the timeline of the the heartbreaking case which has rocked Hollywood.
The Oscar-winning actor, 95, and his classic pianist wife, 65, were found dead at their home in New Mexico on 26 February.
One of their three beloved dogs, Zinna, was also found deceased at the property.
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Following the tragic find, officials said they did 'not believe that foul play was a factor' although they emphasised that it remained an 'active investigation'.
It then emerged that the couple, who had been married since 1991, both displayed signs of of mummification and decomposition, suggesting they had been dead for 'some time'.
Hackman's daughter, Elizabeth Jean, then spoke out and said that she believed that a carbon monoxide leak may have been the cause of the pair's deaths.
However, a local gas company later said that they made ‘no significant findings’ and did not discover any evidence to support this theory after inspecting the property, although there was a 'miniscule' leak.
A press release explained that there was a minor gas leak coming from a stove burner which emitted 0.33% gas in the air, which they said was 'not a lethal amount'.
The gas firm did deploy five 'red tags' around the property, which are safety notices used by inspectors to indicate non-compliance with safety regulations.
"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," the press release said.
Amid the constant flurry of speculation surrounding Hackman and Arakawa's passings, Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya has shared further information on the complex case.
On Wednesday (5 March), he explained that investigators believe that the couple died within a 'similar timeframe'.
"Just because both bodies were in similar ways where we, as experts, sad to say that we know a lot about how people die and how long people are dead for - both bodies are in a similar manner that it could be a similar timeframe," Moya told Fox News Digital.
He noted that a paramedic who tended to the scene had informed him that Hackman, Arakawa and their dog Zinna were all found in different rooms of the 'same building' on the property.
"They checked every residence for gas leaks," Moya said of the couple's home, which reportedly consists of three separate structures.
Hackman was reportedly discovered in a mudroom, while officials said his pacemaker indicated that his heart took its last beat on 17 February - nine days before the bodies were found.
Arakawa was found in a bathroom with pills scattered nearby, according to information from a search warrant.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed the couple had both tested negative for carbon monoxide on Friday.
The case is now being led by the Sheriff's Department in Santa Fe.
Topics: Gene Hackman, Celebrity, US News
Olivia Burke