Gene Hackman's daughter breaks silence on her reclusive father after his mysterious death

Daily Mail ^ | Feb 27, 2025 | Diana Cooper

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Gene Hackman's daughter Leslie has broken her silence following her father's mysterious death in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com.

The 95-year-old actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, were found dead on Wednesday in separate rooms of their $3.8 million Santa Fe, New Mexico home.

A neighbor of the couple called emergency services after discovering the bodies.

One of their three dogs was found dead inside the house, while two others were found alive.

One of Gene's three children, Leslie Anne Hackman, told DailyMail.com on Thursday that the family is waiting to hear from law enforcement regarding the cause of death as the couple's death remains a mystery.

Leslie and her sister, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, can only speculate that their father and stepmother - along with one of their dogs - may have been killed by inhaling toxic fumes due to a carbon monoxide leak.

[moviefan8]

This story will end up on Dateline.

[vivenne]

Ok, thanks.

[Omnivore-Dan]

Maybe. Anything is possible at this point, except there are no signs of any bodily trauma, so there was no struggle.

[ronniesgal]

how did the dog end up ( dead) in a closet???

[mewzilla]

Can Santa Fe be trusted to conduct an investigation...?

[EBH]

Just heard from a radio report the bodies were partially mummified. That means they were dead quite a while. I would hope friends or family would be checking in every few days.

I am pretty reclusive myself, but my neighbors worry if they don’t see my care move or me outside every few days.

[EBH]

this is the house

Celebrity Homes
Revisiting Gene Hackman’s House in Santa Fe

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/gene-hackman-santa-fe-home

Video Tour
https://youtu.be/q4g-2jO4kCw?si=hm_ioo2jHY9qMpn8

[Bonemaker]

Sante Fe is a refuge foe the worst of the left.

[Toespi]

FOX, just reported one of the daughters claimed they were both in good physical health, even though she hadn’t spoken with her father in several months. There is no way the couple cleaned this house themselves, so how often did a cleaning service come. He had three adult kids, it seems at least one would have called to say hello. The dog that died, a German shepherd was in a crate, probably a trained security dog, while the others were running free. Were they expecting someone and contained the dog.

[grobdriver]

Autopsies would resolve a lot of these questions. Surprised we’re not reading about autopsy reports by now.

[Vermont Lt]

The autopsy isn’t complete until the “tox screen” comes back. Those take at least a month (at least that’s the case in my county.)

The toxicology report would answer the questions about CO poisoning.

We aren’t going to know any time soon.

[Vermont Lt]

That was my thought.

I wonder what the dogs ate?

[Vermont Lt]

I am sure their “closet” was slightly larger than “our” closets. LOL

They probably had a dog crate in their walk in closet off the bathroom/bedroom.

The whole thing sounds like a “stranger than fiction” horror story.

[Vermont Lt]

I am one of four kids. When my mom was alone in her late 70’s she was in good health and very active. I would probably speak to her once a month, knowing my siblings were also in contact.

Yet, one day she tripped and broke her hip. She spent three days on the floor as she was not able to get to the phone.

She was found by the guy who plowed the driveway and mowed the lawn.

We made sure that did not happen again.

[ronniesgal]

it does! so many scenarios.

[ABN 505]

I was in a situation involving a fellow worker [Doug] and a badly tuned fork truck. We decided to change the Fluorescent lights in the shop that were flickering or burnt out.I drove the forklift and he went up on a pallet and changed the bulbs. We finished in about 1/2 to 45 min. He stayed at the shop and I went to get a bite of lunch. I went to a hot dog stand and when I got out of the truck I fell flat on my face. I tried to stand up but I was barely able to get back in and sit. I was completely woozy and could not figure out what was wrong with me, I sat there for 30 mins and started feeling better but still woozy. I was still there when I got a phone call from another co-worker to tell me he had gone to the shop and found Doug passed out on the floor covered in his own vomit, he called 911 and they brought him to the emergency room but they could not discover what was wrong with him.It clicked in my brain right away about my dizzyness and Dougs passing out and the fork lift. I told him to call the hospital and have him tested for Carbon Monoxide. They checked and that is what it was. He got a double dose of it because he remained in the shop. The next day we had detectors in the shop.

[PeaRidge]

Unfortunately that probably happened but may not be disclosed.

I support the theory that he died of natural causes….she of anguish induced suicide. She had placed one dog in travel kennel for a purpose.

[packrat35]

You’re lucky to be alive.

[sergeantdave]

Stupid headline.

Of course he was reclusive.

When you’re 95 years of age, one tends to avoid public things like jogging on the trails or arm wrestling at the park bench. Reclusive tends to become a requisite lifestyle at that age.

[ridesthemiles]

BIG HOUSE===MULTIPLE DOORS ==MY GUESS.