Hollywood veteran Gene Hackman’s daughter has shared her thoughts on the cause of death of her father and stepmom Betsy Arakawa, after the pair were found dead at home.

The bodies of the 95-year-old and his classical pianist partner were discovered at their home in the Santa Fe Summit community northeast of the city, in New Mexico, yesterday evening (26 February), with officials stating there is no indication of foul play.

Now, Elizabeth Jean Hackman has told TMZ that she is not sure how the pair died but believes it could be related to toxic fumes, suspecting the cause of death to be carbon monoxide poisoning.

The publication also reported how Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza told the outlet that their corpses were discovered after officers visited their home to perform a welfare check, with a gas company and the fire department also attending, after a neighbor flagged concerns.

Actor Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa pose for a portrait in 1986 in Los Angeles, California (Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Sky News has reported that ‘a gas company has said it is assisting in the investigation into the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa’.

Mendoza also confirmed the deaths of Hackman, the 63-year-old and their pet dog during a statement yesterday.

“All I can say is that we’re in the middle of a preliminary death investigation, waiting on approval of a search warrant,” he said.

“I want to assure the community and neighbourhood that there’s no immediate danger to anyone.”

Hackman grips an Oscar at the 1993 Academy Awards (Avalon/Getty Images)

Mendoza did not comment on how or when the couple died.

Hackman was known as a legend in Hollywood, most fondly remembered for his role as Lex Luthor in the Superman along with roles in Unforgiven and The French Connection.

Hackman announced in 2004 that he was retiring from acting, opting to leave Los Angeles and moved to New Mexico.

Betsy and Hackman pictured together in 1992 (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

He told the press: “I haven’t held a press conference to announce retirement, but yes, I’m not going to act any longer. I really don’t want to do it any longer.”

He concluded his acting career with over 100 acting roles, with his decision to retire linked to stress and health concerns.

Their tragic passing comes just under a year since Hackman and Betsy were last spotted in public on March 28, 2024, for a dinner date at Pappadeaux’s Seafood Kitchen in Santa Fe.

Gene Hackman and his wife were found dead in separate rooms and had been there ‘for some time’, according to a warrant.

News broke earlier today (February 27) that the acclaimed actor and his wife 63-year-old wife Betsy Arakawa had been found dead in their Sante Fe, New Mexico, home.

Hackman, best known for movies like The French Connection, Superman and Enemy State, was 95 and had long ago retired from the film industry.

As well as the celebrity couple, one of their three dogs was also found dead.

Hackman’s daughter Elizabeth has since spoken out and said that it’s believed her father, Arakawa, and their dog died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

As more information comes to light about their unexpected deaths, investigators have revealed that Hackman and Arakawa were found in separate rooms.

Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their Santa Fe home (Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)

As per Associated Press, Hackman was found in a mudroom while his wife was in a bathroom next to a space heater.

In the bathroom there was an open prescription bottle and pills scattered on the counter top.

Such information was divulged in a Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office search warrant.

In addition to this, Denise Avila, a sheriff’s office spokesperson, confirmed that Arakawa and Hackman had no gunshot wounds or any other type of wounds.

In regards to how long they’d been there for, it’s thought they had been deceased for some time. According to Mail Online, the couple were partially-mummified.

The investigation into their deaths remains ongoing.

The late couple wed in 1991 (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

Tributes across Hollywood have been rolling in for Hackman in the wake of his death.

Star Trek actor George Takei said of the late 95-year-old: “Gene Hackman could play anyone, and you could feel a whole life behind it. He could be everyone and no one, a towering presence or an everyday Joe. That’s how powerful an actor he was.”

American filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola added: “The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity. I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.”

Elsewhere, Spanish actor Antonio Banderas wrote on Instagram: “A very sad day for… cinema’s family. Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have passed away.

“My deepest condolences to friends, family and cinema lovers. RIP.”

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact GrieveWell on (734) 975-0238, or email info@grievewell.com.

Trigger warning: This article contains allegations of domestic and child abuse, as well as drug overdose, which some readers may find distressing.

Timothy Murphy-Johnson went viral a few years ago for writing loving messages for his wife on a mirror, but he’s now being accused of her murder by her family and friends.

Murphy-Johnson, 40, delighted people on social media after it was revealed he had written a 15-point message on the reasons he loved his wife.

This earned him the title of America’s kindest husband, with many assuming his relationship with partner Molly was equally as sweet.

But according to Molly’s friends and family, this was certainly not the case.

Following her death back in 2017, they had their concerns regarding the widowed husband Murphy-Johnson.

Timothy Murphy- Johnson was imprisoned for life last month (Alachua County Mugshots)

Molly’s death was initially suspected to be a drug overdose during a breakdown – but her friends now suspect Murphy-Johnson was the murderer, following a jail sentence he recently received.

According to a New York Post report, the 40-year-old computer game designer was jailed for life last month for drugging and holding a 16-year-old girl captive and filming videos of child sexual abuse.

Molly’s friends suggested there were similarities in this abuse and those his late wife allegedly suffered while married to him.

When she was alive, Molly had told her friends that Murphy-Johnson was violent and that she feared for her safety.

Seven months after Molly had posted the 15-point mirror picture, she applied for a restraining order against her husband.

According to a report by The Times, in the court application, she wrote: “He threatened to kill me (and make it look like a suicide) … physically assaulted me by kicking my back/stomach, punching my head/arms, pushing me down and stealing my purse, money and phone to prevent me getting away.”

Molly’s friends suspect her husband had a role in her death in 2017(IMGUR)

She eventually withdrew the application, but her father did say that at the end of August in 2017 she ‘begged’ him to ‘rescue’ her from him.

Her father also noted the last time he spoke to his daughter, she had confirmed she was back with Murphy-Johnson.

He said she spoke to him when she wished him Happy Birthday on November 30.

“I got a call from her a few days later”, he explained. “She was back with Tim. He had her in psych hospitals in LA. She said she needed me to send her $20,000 for hospital bills … I never got to see or speak to Molly again.”

Molly’s childhood friend, Anna-Marie Anderson, also spoke of her suspicions regarding how her friend died.

“She was brilliant, extremely educated on medication and drugs, and in my opinion, she would not go out that way.”

According to the Times Report, a relative of Murphy-Johnson, who wished to remain nameless, said that the suggestions the ex-husband could be implicated in his wife’s death have been dismissed as ‘baseless’.

Police have released the mugshot of professional golfer Scottie Scheffler and revealed charges following his arrest.

The golfer was arrested while trying to enter the one of the PGA Championship’s golf courses.

His arrest comes as the PGA championship is under way at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.

Police confirmed that he was arrested on four charges.

These included second degree assault of a police officer, along with lesser charges of third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic.

A spokesperson for the PGA has told CNN: “As this is an ongoing situation, we will let you know of any updates as they come.”

ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington was at the scene when the world number one was arrested while trying to enter the golf course.

Describing the incident, he said that Scheffler had tried to enter the course using a side median but was instructed to stop by a police officer.

When the golfer attempted to continue the officer attached himself to the side of his car.

Scottie Scheffler has been arrested. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Around 10 or 20 yards after where the officer first told him to stop Scheffler pulled over, just as he had been turning into the entrance of the club.

At this point the officer told Scheffler to get out of the car.

Describing what happened next, Darlington said: “He rolled down the window, the police officer grabbed his arm and started pulling at it.

“He reached inside, opened the car door, pulled Scheffler out, pushed him up against the car, immediately placed him in handcuffs.”

Reports have indicated that Scheffler had been attempting to get around a traffic jam which had been caused by an earlier traffic collision in which one person had died.

According to Louisville Metro Police Department a pedestrian died after being struck by a shuttle bus.

The golfer had attempted to drive round a traffic jam. (David Cannon/Getty Images)

A statement on the incident from LMPD said: “About 5:00 this morning, the LMPD responded to a call of a vehicle collision involving a pedestrian and a bus,” the statement read.

“Our preliminary investigation found that an adult male pedestrian was crossing Shelbyville Road south to north when he was struck by a shuttle bus that was travelling eastbound in the compulsory centre lane dedicated for buses.

“As a result, the pedestrian received fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene. The LMPD Traffic Unit is investigating.”

Scheffler had been attempting to get to the golf course to prepare for his upcoming match when he was detained.