Elizabeth Jean Hackman, daughter of actor Gene Hackman and his ex-wife Faye Maltese, made statements to TMZ suggesting that the still unexplained deaths could be related to toxic gases. This is based on the absence of signs of violence in the mansion, the doors, and the bodies of the victims, Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa, found in different rooms.
The discovery occurred after a neighbor alerted authorities upon noticing the actor's house was completely silent. Upon arrival, the officers found the door ajar and the bodies of the victims. According to police reports, the corpses had been deceased for at least a day. Gene Hackman, his wife, and one of their dogs were found dead, while two other dogs survived.
The circumstances of the deaths have caused uncertainty, despite investigations into possible causes such as homicide, accidental death, natural causes, or suicide. The family suspects accidental poisoning, as the deaths occurred simultaneously, and signs of decomposition and swelling were identified in the victims.
Authorities have classified the case as "suspicious" and have requested a search warrant to inspect the property for more evidence about what happened.
