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.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

I wonder if they had security cameras recording everything ?

[Omnivore-Dan]

That doesn’t explain the pills found around his wife’s body.

[DesertRhino]

She hasn’t spoken to him in months. Said they were “close”.

[ifinnegan]

Maybe she had a headache.

She didn’t know she was being poisoned.

[plain talk]

If it has been days since their deaths wouldnt the security cameras have overwritten data?

[Fai Mao]

Carbon monoxide poisoning give you a head ache. That explains the pills

https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/carbon-monoxide-poisoning

[TheWriterTX]

She may have thought she was coming down with something and was reaching for medication, not knowing the poison was all around her.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause dizziness, nausea, and more symptoms, upto and including death.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

At this point, if I had to bet, I would go with Carbon Monoxide poisoning. That may explain the door being ajar, to let in some fresh air. CO binds tightly to the same spot on the red blood cells where oxygen binds. Even if you are given pure oxygen, it can't help you until the CO unbinds. It suffocates you.

[FamiliarFace]

Ok, maybe for Hollywood types that qualifies as *close*.

[4Runner]

Paging Lieutenant Columbo....

[KevinB]

Wife looked like a slightly older version of Swallwell’s squeeze, Fang Fang.

[4Runner]

[Governor Dinwiddie]

#10: "Paging Lieutenant Columbo...."

"Oh, just one more thing …"

[frogjerk]

I really can’t stand the press pushes the “Has broken their silence” dumbass line for every story nowadays. He was found dead on Wednesday. It is Thursday.

[leaning conservative]

Unless she passed out while opening the bottle. Weird & RIP Gene.

[Karliner]

You rang?

[Karl Spooner]

The place is a real mess.

[vivenne]

Is that his house?

[Jane Long]

That’s their house??

[CivilWarBrewing]

Test the pill bottle(s) for DOG DNA !

I'll betcha at least one of the 3 dogs (1 now dead, 2 still alive) picked up that bottle and spread the pills around her body. Were any of those pills or the bottle chewed upon?