Gene Hackman’s friend has said there are ‘so many pieces of the puzzle’ after the star was found mummified with his wife following their mysterious deaths.
The Hollywood legend, 95, and his spouse, Betsy Arakawa, 63, were found dead in their New Mexico home on February 26 with one of their dogs.
Two days after the shocking discovery, police announced that they believe Hackman died on February 17, after finding that was the day his pacemaker stopped recording his heartbeat.
Their friends and family have been left plagued with questions as to how the couple died.
Doug Lanham, 76, a friend of Hackman’s in Santa Fe, told The Sunday Times: ‘There’s so many pieces of the puzzle that don’t equate to who they are.’
Mr Lanham co-owns the local restaurant Jinja, which the Hackmans invested in.
They became business partners for several years until Lanham bought them out in around 2017.
Mr Lanham previously said he couldn’t fathom any deliberate action involved in their deaths, due to their love of their three dogs, one of which was found dead near Betsy’s body.
He added that neither had ever mentioned suicide in his presence – though he had not seen them since before the Covid-19 pandemic, during which Hackman became increasingly reclusive.
The French Connection actor’s body was found in the mudroom with his sunglasses nearby – causing police to speculate that he had ‘suddenly fallen’.
The Oscar winner’s wife was found lying on her side in the bathroom near a space heater. Police also speculate that she too ‘abruptly fell to the ground,’ according to the affidavit.
The spilled pill bottle was found near Arakawa, who was found with signs of decay, including body decomposition and bloating to her face, hands and feet. Her husband had similar decomposition.
The couple’s dog was also found deceased in a closet near Arakawa.