911 call made by maintenance worker about Gene Hackman’s death revealed
In the wake of the death of Hollywood actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, the 911 call made by a maintenance worker after discovering their bodies has been revealed.
On February 27th, County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed in a statement provided to regional news publication Sante Fe New Mexican that Hackman and Arakawa were found on February 26th by local police after a search warrant was issued following a call from a maintenance worker around 2pm.
The identification process of Hackman and Arakawa’s bodies took several hours due to the conditions they were found.
In an affidavit published by the Sante Fe Police Department, Arakawa’s body was described as showing “obvious signs of death, body decomposition, bloating in her face and mummification in both hands and feet.” Hackman, who was found in the mud room, is suspected to have “suddenly fallen” and “showed obvious signs of death, similar and consistent with the female decedent”.
Arakawa’s body was found by the police in a bathroom with a space heater near her head and she was also said to have been surrounded by pill bottles. A dead dog was also found within 10 to 15 metres of her body, and two other dogs survived.
It remains unknown how long they had been deceased before their bodies were discovered. In a 911 call, obtained by CNN, a maintenance worker told police that he could see two unconscious people through a window but could not enter the property, adding, “No, dude, they’re not moving. Just send somebody out here really quick”.
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Police then rushed to the Santa Fe home and discovered two bodies. They have since confirmed they believe “the circumstances surrounding the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation”.
A press conference has been scheduled for 3pm local time at the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office on February 28th with more information expected to follow.
Hackman’s two daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie, and his granddaughter, Annie, have since paid tribute to the late actor since his death was announced.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy,” they wrote, per The New York Post. The trio continued: “He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”
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