The gas company tasked with helping the investigation of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s ‘suspicious’ deaths say they found a ‘minuscule leak’.
The veteran Hollywood actor, 95, was discovered on the floor of his Santa Fe, New Mexico, home late last month (February 26) while his wife, 65, and their 12-year-old dog were found in similar positions in a separate room.
Gene’s daughter, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, told TMZ last week that she suspects the pair could’ve died from carbon monoxide poisoning or other ‘toxic fumes’.
Yet initial tests carried out by the Santa Fe City Fire Department showed there were ‘no signs’ of a carbon monoxide leak or poisoning.
Gene and Betsy were found dead on the floor of their home last month (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office also said they did not suspect foul play but determined the mysterious and seemingly sudden deaths ‘suspicious enough’ to warrant a thorough investigation.
Now, the New Mexico Gas company has confirmed that there are ‘no significant findings’ in the couple’s home related to gas leaks or carbon monoxide, reports Variety.
However, gas workers did find a ‘minuscule’ leak around a stove burner, which showed 0.33 percent gas in the air, but determined it was ‘not a lethal amount.’
The gas company also noted four other ‘red tag’ code enforcement violations, not involving gas or carbon monoxide, around a water heater and gas log lighters in three fireplaces.
The sheriff’s office also said this week that natural gas is ‘not believed to be a factor.’
While autopsy and toxicology results into the superstar actor and the classical pianist are still pending, Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Gene and Betsy’s bodies tested negative for carbon monoxide, suggesting it has been ruled out as a cause of death.
A gas inspection found a minor leak but nothing that could’ve contribute to their deaths (Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
The pair also showed no signs of having suffered ‘external trauma’ but cops on the scene noted the pair appeared to have possibly ‘abruptly’ fallen to the ground and had apparently been dead for some time.
Tests on Gene’s pacemaker showed he was alive as of February 17 when a ‘last event’ was recorded, reports Daily Mail, which is nine days before their bodies were found.
The authorities say it is a ‘reasonable assumption’ that Gene died around that time the pacemaker recorded the event.
Among the ‘suspicious’ circumstances at the scene of their sprawling $3.8 million home were the fact the front door was unlocked, as discovered by two maintenance workers, and two of their three of their dogs on the premises were ‘healthy’.
A bottle of opened prescription pills were also found scattered on the counter top of the bathroom
