A new police report from the tragic triple deaths of Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa and their dog includes a mysterious detail about a heater found to have moved in the New Mexico mansion

Actor Gene Hackman was found dead at his Santa Fe, New Mexico home with his wife and one of his dogs on Wednesday, and a new detail only deepens the ongoing mystery.

Gene died at the age of 95 at his mansion, along with his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, and their pet dog. The police were called to an address on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park at 1:45p.m on February 26, according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, with the forces not publicly announcing the deaths until just after midnight.

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 had suddenly fallen. Deputy Thomas advised the male decedent also showed obvious signs of death, similar and consistent with the female decedent.”

Police reported that a heater near Betsy’s head could have fallen, after she was found in a bathroom with one of the couple’s living dogs ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
A black heater was found near Arakawa’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”.

Mysteriously, two of the couple’s dogs were found alive at the property, with the front door ajar. Mendoza revealed: “The reporting party found the front door of the residence unsecured and opened, deputies observed a healthy dog running loose on the property, another healthy dog near the deceased female, a deceased dog laying 10-15 feet from the deceased female in a closet of the bathroom, the heater being moved, the pill bottle being opened and pills scattered next to the female, the male decedent being located in a separate room of the residence…”

Mendoza stated there was no suicide note and no evident signs of trauma on their bodies. “At this stage in the process there isn’t anything obvious like that,” he said. “The autopsy is going to tell us more.” However, an autopsy found ‘no signs of external trauma’ and a cause of death has not yet been determined.

Hackman’s family previously suspected that a gas leak was responsible for the tragic deaths, but it seems unlikely. The Santa Fe City Fire Department underwent testing to determine if there were signs of a possible carbon monoxide leak.

The report states: “He advised the fire department did not locate signs of a carbon monoxide leak or poisoning… as of now, there are no signs or evidence indicating there were any problems associated to the pipes in and around the residence.” Sheriff Mendoza added: “We’re not going to guess this was an accident or natural causes. It wasn’t typical.”