Gene and Betsy lived in the sprawling property, which offers total isolation

Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead at their home in Santa Fe alongside one of their dogs as mystery continues to shroud the triple death

The discreet turning off the twisting road up into the mountains from Santa Fe is easy to miss.

The roads are unlit around here, and the vast slab of New Mexican sky offers little in the way of stars to guide the way. But it’s here – in splendid seclusion – that Gene Hackman has called home for 20 years after quitting Hollywood. You can see the attraction for a man who was left frazzled by the industry, and wanted to recharge his soul.

Eerily quiet with very little through traffic, the sprawling property nestled in 12 acres offers total isolation. For some, this degree of being away from it all could prove unsettling. But Gene appeared to relish in the anonymity that the unique location afforded. A security hut is tucked away off the main road to vet everyone that arrives. They are met with grey gates that mark the start of a winding, tree-lined path up to his home.

And it’s here – in a “part pueblo, part colonial New Mexico, part Spanish Baroque” property – that the former actor lived a simple life with wife Betsy, only offering up rare sightings in town over the course of two decades.

Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa pictured in 1986 ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

The pair led a reclusive life in their final years ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
“It had a kind of magic in it,” Gene once said in an interview about his home. “It’s totally different from my other houses. The Montecito house was very formal.”

When I arrive at the entrance to the compound at 8pm, it’s a hive of activity. A pizza delivery man is grappling with the gates, while another car roars inside. What quiet-loving Gene would have made of such a commotion is anyone’s guess…

Mystery continues to shroud the triple death – with police now working to determine a number of things including if Gene or his wife Betsy had fallen, and why the door to the house was ajar. The deceased dog was found in the closet, whilst two other dogs were found to be healthy – and one was discovered near the deceased female and another was observed outside the property.

Gene once said the house had a ‘kind of magic’ ( 
Image:
AP)

A new report says cops “observed a pair of feet and legs on the ground near the kitchen area” which they found to be Hackman. It reads: “The deceased male who was found wearing gray sweat pants, a blue in colour long-sleeve t-shirt, brown slippers, and walking-cane. Deputy Thomas indicated he observed a pair of sunglasses located near the decedent’s left of his body.

“Based on Deputy Thomas ‘ training and experience he suspected the male individual has suddenly fallen . Deputy Thomas advised the male decedent also showed obvious signs of death, similar and consistent with the female decedent.”

A black heater was found near Betsy’s head, with the report stating: “He advised he suspected the heater could have fallen in the event the female abruptly fell to the ground.” The office also “advised he also observed an orange prescription bottle on the counter-top near the deceased female. The prescription bottle appeared opened with pills scattered on the counter-top”.