'Mystery Surrounding Death of US Actor Couple with 110 Billion Won in Assets... "Possibility of 9 Days Left Unattended After Death"'

Pacemaker Stopped 9 Days Before Death
Estimated Fortune of 110 Billion KRW... Cause of Death Still Unconfirmed

Recently, it has been suggested that Hollywood famous actor Gene Hackman, who was found dead at home with his spouse, may have been left unattended for 9 days after his death.

According to AP News and CNN on the 28th of last month (local time), Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated at a press conference held that day that the coroner's initial investigation confirmed that Hackman's pacemaker stopped working on the 17th of last month. This is evidence suggesting that Hackman may have died on the 17th of last month, and if he indeed died that day, the body would have been left unattended for 9 days until it was discovered on the 26th of last month.

American actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa in 2003. Photo by AP=Yonhap News

Hackman, aged 95, and his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa (65), were found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on the 26th of last month. The first to discover the bodies were two workers performing maintenance. At that time, Hackman was found in the cleaning room next to the kitchen, and his wife Arakawa's body was lying on the bathroom floor. Additionally, prescription pill bottles and medications were scattered on the kitchen counter next to the bathroom. A pet dog they raised together was also found dead. According to the statement, the hands and feet of the bodies were all 'mummified.' Generally, mummification of a body is known to begin about two weeks after death.

In the early stages of the investigation, carbon monoxide poisoning was suspected as the cause of death. However, at the press conference that day, Sheriff Mendoza said, "The carbon monoxide toxicity test on the bodies came back negative," adding, "It does not appear to be carbon monoxide poisoning."

Actor Gene Hackman, who was found dead at his home on the 26th of last month (local time) (photo taken at the Golden Globe Awards in January 2003). Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News.

Authorities did not rule out the possibility of homicide, but no signs of forced entry or items being searched were found in the house. There were no signs of trauma on the bodies, and no suicide note was discovered. Also, the front door of the house was open when the bodies were found.

Investigators examined the couple's cell phones and notebooks, and questioned family members, neighbors, and people working in the residential complex to find out who last saw or contacted them. However, since the Hackman couple valued their privacy, it has been difficult to ascertain what happened around them. Authorities reported that there were no surveillance cameras installed at Hackman's home, and a worker managing the house said the last contact with the couple was about two weeks ago. The final autopsy results to determine the cause of death have not yet been released.

The residence of Gene Hackman and his wife in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. Photo by AP Yonhap News

Fox News cited data from the website 'Celebrity Net Worth,' which estimates net worth based on the box office earnings of famous actors' works, reporting that Hackman is estimated to have earned a fortune of $80 million (about 117 billion KRW) over his 40-year acting career. He had three children with his ex-wife.

Hackman worked as an actor in Hollywood from the 1960s to the early 2000s, appearing in over 80 films across genres including action, crime, thriller, historical, and comedy. His major works include the 'Superman' series, 'No Way Out,' 'Enemy of the State,' and 'The Royal Tenenbaums.' He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for 'The French Connection' (1971) and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for 'Unforgiven' (1992).