Gene Hackman and wife’s death investigated as ‘suspicious’ after door was open, pills were found

The deaths of Gene Hackman, his wife and one of their dogs are being investigated as “suspicious” by authorities, who said Thursday that the door to the couple’s Santa Fe, New Mexico, home was “unsecured and opened,” police wrote in an affidavit obtained by TMZ.

Authorities said the deaths were “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation” after also finding an open pill bottle and pills scattered around the room where Hackman’s wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, and the dog were discovered.

Meanwhile, Hackman’s body was located in a separate room, and there was “no obvious sign of a gas leak,” according to the report.

The New Mexico Gas Co. is working with the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department in the investigation, spokesperson Tim Korte told the Associated Press.