Prince William feels heartbroken over the death of film legend Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog. The world experienced a tragic loss on Wednesday, with the passing of veteran actor, Hackman, and his wife in their home in the Santa Fe Summit community. The Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed the devastating news, with no immediate details of their cause of death. As the world continues to seek answers, the Prince of Wales has shown support for the family, taking to social media to pay his final respects to the 95-year-old, and wife of thirty years.
Taking to X, Prince William reshared a snippet of the film body BAFTA’s earlier tribute to Gene Hackman, including his own heartfelt words of grief. He wrote,
“So sad to hear the news of the death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy. Hackman was a true genius of film who brought each and every character to life with power, authenticity and star quality.”
Prince William, who is the President of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, BAFTA to which Gene Hackman belonged before his death, personally signed the tribute with his initial, W, indicating the genuineness of his words. Notably, the mysterious circumstances surrounding his passing, more than the legendary actor’s sudden death, have left the world in a state of shock.
What Is Gene Hackman’s Cause of Death
Although the Sheriff initially claimed in the statement confirming his death that there was “no immediate indication of foul play,” gory details since released have left many, including the actors’ family, desperate for answers. Among the prevailing speculation surrounding the deaths of Gene Hackman, his wife Arakawa, and their dog all at once is the possibility of the involvement of carbon monoxide or other toxic gasses.
Reports confirm that the bodies of the deceased individuals were only discovered during a wellness check on the home after a neighbor raised alarm. According to reports, two maintenance workers, Roland Lowe Begay and Jesse Keller, discovered the bodies at about 1:46 pm Mountain Time on Wednesday. While it remains unconfirmed if toxic gases indeed played a role in their deaths, officers and fire department officials at the scene took the necessary precautions to avoid exposure, per TMZ.
Subsequent findings show a third party may have a hand in their deaths, although not fully confirmed. An arrest warrant issued by the Santa Fe authorities suggests their deaths were “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation.” This assertion is fueled by the fact that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found decomposed in their home. They discovered Arakawa, 64, lying on the bathroom floor with an open prescription bottle beside her. She had signs of bloating on her face, and mummification in her limbs. These meticulous details seemed like an intentional move to “mummify” their bodies, raising suspicions of foul play. No arrests have been made as investigations into the tragic deaths remain ongoing.
