Gene Hackman’s home had minor gas leak but it was not lethal, investigation concludes
The latest report from the investigation surrounding the death of Gene Hackman revealed there were minor gas leaks in his home, but not enough to be lethal to inhabitants.
The actor was found dead with his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog on Wednesday afternoon (February 26) in their home in the New Mexico city of Santa Fe, Per the Santa Fe New Mexican.
The outlet also reported that authorities stated there was no immediate indication of foul play. No cause of death was provided, along with a possible time of death. On Thursday (February 27), it had been ruled that the deaths were being treated as “suspicious” according to a search warrant affidavit.
There had been some speculation that the couple had died due to carbon monoxide poisoning from a gas leak, but authorities were quick to rule that out as a potential cause.
In a press release on Tuesday (March 4), the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office issued an update based on the New Mexico Gas Company’s “extensive investigation for gas leaks and carbon monoxide at Gene Hackman’s home,” conducted on the evening of February 26.
“There were no significant findings. NMGC did issue five red tags. One red tag was for a minuscule leak (0.33 per cent gas in air – not a lethal amount) at one of the stove burners,” the release revealed. “The other four red tags were for code enforcement violations -not involving gas leaks or carbon monoxide – involving a water heater and gas log lighters installed in three fireplaces”.
The sheriff’s office have confirmed that the results “are not believed to be a factor in the deaths of Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa or their dog,” although the report was sent to the Office of the Medical Investigator “for consideration”.
Tributes have come in from all over the film industry following Hackman’s death, with close friend and former co-star Dustin Hoffman saying via press release: “I miss him already”.
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Victoria Luxford
NME
