Death of Gene Hackman, wife and dog ‘suspicious’ – front door open, pills scattered

Oscar-winning cinema giant Gene Hackman was found dead on Wednesday alongside his wife, in an incident that police are reportedly calling “suspicious”.

The bodies of Hackman, 95, and his classical pianist wife Betsy Arakawa, 63, along with that of a pet dog, were discovered at their property in New Mexico on Wednesday.

Authorities initially reported there were no signs of foul play, but a search warrant said a detective believed the deaths were “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation”.

Police officers called to the home by maintenance workers found the door unlocked and open, and pills scattered next to Arakawa’s body, which was in the bathroom.

It appeared Arakawa had been dead “for some time”, with the body in a state of decomposition, the warrant noted.

Hackman’s body was found in another room, fully clothed, with sunglasses next to his body, apparently having fallen suddenly.