Police Address 'Foul Play' Speculation Amid Investigation Into Deaths Of Gene Hackman, His Wife And Dog

Police are frantically looking into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa, and their pet dog.

All of Hackman's household members were found dead on Wednesday around 1.45 pm, but authorities say they "do not believe foul play was a factor in their deaths." However, the cause of death remains unknown.

Fans have taken to social media to pay their last respects to the actor and his family, with some suggesting that the death of Gene Hackman and his loved ones could be linked to the "cold" weather at night in New Mexico, or "carbon monoxide related."

The cause of Gene Hackman's death, as well as his wife Betsy Arakawa and their pet, continues to leave unanswered questions in the hearts of many.

The "Superman" actor and his household were found dead at their Santa Fe home when officers stopped by to carry out a welfare check that afternoon.

According to the Daily Mail, authorities have confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the tragedy.

County Sheriff's deputies said they "do not believe foul play was a factor in their deaths," but the "exact cause of death has not been determined."

County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said that officials are "in the middle of a preliminary death investigation" and "waiting on approval of a search warrant."

Reports suggest that authorities are likely to include the dog in their investigation as they aim to piece together their final moments.

Fans have taken to social media to share their reaction to the shocking news, with some speculating what could be the cause of the tragic incident.

"It is still very cold in NM at night, it may be weather or carbon monoxide related," a fan wrote on X, adding, "RIP to Hackman family."

Another fan wrote, "Hackman truly was in a league of his own! In the reel of cinematic history, his performances remain timeless. A solid titan of the film industry, now shines amongst the stars. His legacy is truly remarkable."

A person said, "RIP Gene Hackman. I watched two of his films last month, Uncommon Valor and Crimson Tide. I even searched on Google to find out about him. Very sad."

"Great, great artist. One of the GOATs. May he rest in peace," another individual penned.

One sad fan exclaimed, "Damn, this year is already taking some of the good 1's out already!"

Before his death at age 95, Hackman became a reclusive figure and was rarely seen in public.

The "Enemy Of The State" actor retired from acting in 2004 at age 74 and relocated from Los Angeles to New Mexico for a quieter life.

There are many stories about why he retired; however, in a 2009 interview, he told Empire that his health was the major cause for him calling it quits on his illustrious Hollywood career.

"The straw that broke the camel's back was actually a stress test that I took in New York," Hackman said. "The doctor advised me that my heart wasn't in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress."

His last role was in the 2004 film "Welcome to Mooseport" where he played a former US president who retired to Maine and ran for mayor in the small fictional town opposite Ray Romano.

According to the New York Post, he alluded to his retirement in a July 2004 appearance on Larry King's talk show but didn't make it official until 2008.

"I haven't held a press conference to announce retirement, but yes, I'm not going to act any longer. I've been told not to say that over the last few years, in case some real wonderful part comes up, but I really don't want to do it any longer," Hackman told Reuters at the time.

Following Hackman's death, a resurfaced clip has emerged, depicting moments where he shared his thoughts about how he feared dying while wanting to take care of his family, per the Daily Mail.

In the 2004 clip, the two-time Oscar winner sat for an interview with Larry King and spoke about how he had previously undergone angioplasty, a surgery intended to open up narrowed or blocked arteries.

Hackman also told of suffering "heart problems," including "severe angina" 12 years earlier, and when King asked him if he worried about his health, he shared his fear of dying.

"I try to take care of myself. I don't have a lot of fears. I have the normal fear of passing away - you know, I guess we all think about that, especially when you get to be a certain age," he said. "I want to make sure that my wife and my family are taken care of. Other than that, I don't have a lot of fears."