Mirror journalist Tom Bryant reflects on the answers we got from the Gene Hackman death press conference – and the baffling questions that still have to be answered

Standing in front of the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office in the afternoon sun, the assembled press and TV crews from around the world had hoped for some clarity about the tragic death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy.

Then circumstances in which they were found – Gene lying in the mudroom, while Betsy in the bathroom, with a dead dog in the closet, has baffled everyone. And while we did get some definitive answers many left the press conference that day, just as baffled as they were before. Here the Mirror goes through the unanswered questions…and what still doesn’t add up:

The dead dog in the closet

Betsy’s Alsatian was found mummified in the closet in the bathroom near Betsy’s body – and there is still no indication of the circumstances around its death. Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya didn’t answer any questions as to how the dog died. Questions abound such as did the dog get stuck in the closet and die of starvation? Did it die before Betsy and its owners? Was the closet door actually closed?

City of Santa Fe Fire Department Chief Brian Moya speaks during the press conference ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

Why were the other two dogs healthy when their two owners were dead

There was no clarity on this either. Cops reported that both dogs were in good condition…despite their owner Hackman having been dead for at least nine days, according to the last reading on his pacemaker. Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya said the door to the back of the house was open allowing them to go in and out.. “I think they were able to go outside a little bit. I don’t know about food,” he said. How did they survive? Was anyone feeding them?

Hackman was dead for nine days…but why were there signs of mummification?

Many were also perplexed by the fact that while Hackman’s pacemaker registered its last beat on February – suggesting he had been dead for nine days – Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya said that mummification only began after more than two weeks. “It would be over two weeks, “ Moya confirmed when asked directly by a reporter. Were there particular environmental conditions at play that meant mummification had started earlier? Again we don’t know yet.

What were the pills found by Betsy’s body…..and why were they “important evidence”

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza was asked directly if the pills scattered by her body could be responsible for her death, but they are awaiting toxicology results which could take some time. He refused to reveal what the pills were, who they belonged to and if they were on prescription or not. However he deemed them to be “important evidence”, adding: “I think they are important for the pathologist to consider to try and make a determination what the cause ands manner of death are.”

Why was there no CCTV given the couple’s high profile

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said there was no “surveillance as we know it right now in the interior or exterior of the residence.” He added: “I think everyone here understands that they were very private individuals and a very private family.” For many the lack of CCTV was perplexing.