A TRAGIC MYSTERY

Police are baffled by the strange deaths of Hollywood veteran Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy

- MELON RADEBE

HE WAS regarded as one of the finest actors of his generation – a man who could play everything from a cop to a sports coach to the baddie in a superhero movie. But two decades ago, Gene Hackman turned his back on it all, preferring a life of seclusion far from the fishbowl of Tinseltown with his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, and their dogs.

As the years marched on, Gene succumbed to old age – a picture taken last year shows him using a walking stick and clutching his wife's hand, a shadow of the strapping actor he once was.

Gene was 95, so life was following its inevitable conclusion - but the details surrounding his death are intriguing and horrifying, resembling a Stephen King horror story.

He and Betsy were both found dead in their Santa Fe home in the most mysterious of circumstances.

Gene was discovered in the mudroom – a room where outdoor gear is discarded – his sunglasses near his body, suggesting he'd had a fall.

Betsy (65) was found in the bathroom, lying on her side on the floor with a space heater near her head, which authorities believe may have fallen with her. An open bottle of prescription medication and scattered pills were on the counter.

One of the couple's German shepherds was found dead in a cupboard about four metres away from her body. Two other German shepherds were found roaming around the property, alive and healthy.

Perhaps most horrifying was the condition of the bodies. Their corpses were both in a state of decomposition, with signs of bloating and mummification.

Mummification occurs when dead tissue dries out and dehydrates, turning into a hard, shrunken mass, which makes it difficult for insects or microorganisms to break down.

Santa Fe, in the semi-arid state of New Mexico, is warm and dry, creating ideal circumstances for mummification.