Gene Hackman and Wife’s Deaths Ruled ‘Suspicious’ in Search Warrant: ‘No Obvious Signs of a Gas Leak’ and ‘Thorough Investigation’ Required

variety.com:

Jordan Moreau The deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been ruled “suspicious,” according to a search warrant affidavit released Thursday morning.

Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 63, were found dead in their home in Santa Fe, N.M., after midnight Thursday, the Santa Fe County Sheriff had confirmed to Variety.

Authorities said there was no immediate indication of foul play, but no cause of death was provided. Now, their deaths are “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation,” the affidavit, released by New Mexico authorities, says. “Affiant believes that the circumstances surrounding the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation because 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, and no obvious signs of a gas leak,” the affidavit reads.

It says that a police deputy found Arakawa’s body in the bathroom with a space heater near her head. “He advised he suspected the heater could have fallen in the event the female abruptly fell to the ground,” the affidavit says. “He advised he also observed an orange prescription bottle on the counter-top near the deceased female.