Police are gearing up to question Gene Hackman’s three children as they try to discover the details of the actor and his wife’s final hours.
The Hollywood star leaves behind three kids he had with his ex-wife Faye Maltese, Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 63, and Leslie, 58. Elizabeth and Leslie were photographed looking somber just one day after the tragic discovery of their parents’ remains, prompting Leslie to confess that she hadn’t spoken to her dad in months.
Authorities have confirmed that interviews with “family members” are in progress, aiming to clarify the final days of Gene and Betsy. The couple was found deceased in separate areas within their New Mexico residence earlier in the week.
Sheriff Adan Mendoza of Santa Fe County, who held a media briefing on Friday, admitted it had been a “challenge” so far to determine the last people the couple spoke to. It was previously suggested that the maintenance workers may have spoken to the couple last, but it’s now not clear if this was the case or not.
Leslie mentioned her distant communication with her father recently, saying, “We were close. I hadn’t talked to them for a couple of months, but everything was normal and everything was good.” Meanwhile, Elizabeth previously speculated that hazardous gases may have played a role in Gene and Betsy’s deaths, a theory subsequently discounted following autopsy results.
Cops also believe that two cell phones found at the property could hold a vital key. Those devices have been taken away for analysis, with the possibility that specialized forensic experts might be brought in.
During a press briefing on Friday, it was revealed that Gene likely died about nine days prior to his body being found by officials. Mendoza acknowledged that the most recent data on the actor’s pacemaker was logged on February 17. When quizzed about the likelihood of this being Gene’s date of death, Mendoza agreed it was a “very good assumption.”
“According to the pathologist, I think that is a very good assumption that that was his last day of life,” said Mendoza. Authorities were not able to determine who passed away first between Gene or his wife. Both were discovered “mummified” along with their dog.
The couple had last been seen together in public on March 28, 2024. During that occasion, Gene was photographed as he leaned on his wife for support, also clutching a walking cane. Gene and Betsy led a private life in Santa Fe alongside their three dogs, one of whom died alongside them.
But despite leading a private life, Gene and Betsy were said to have played a “vital role” in their local community. Gene served on the board of trustees of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, where he was recognized for his significant contributions during its early years from 1997 to 2004.
A spokesperson for the museum stated, “Beyond his role as a Trustee, Gene contributed to the Museum in meaningful ways, notably as the narrator of the Perry Miller Adato film, Georgia O’Keeffe: A Life in Art. The Museum is grateful for his commitment to sharing Georgia O’Keeffe’s legacy and for their deep support of the arts and cultural initiatives.”
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