Distressing 911 call sheds light on discovery of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa's bodies

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO: Disturbing new details have emerged about the tragic deaths of Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 64.

A newly released 911 call sheds light on the moment their bodies were discovered inside their Santa Fe, New Mexico home.

Inside the distressing 911 call about Gene Hackman's death

In the distressing call, a frantic male caller, whose identity was redacted, can be heard telling the dispatcher that he found two unresponsive bodies at Hackman’s $3.3 million home's compound.

Overcome with emotion, he repeatedly exclaimed “Damn” while sniffing back tears, according to TMZ.

The caller, believed to be one of two maintenance workers, earlier appeared unsure whether there was one or two bodies inside the home.

Partially-mummified bodies of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa discovered inside home

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's decomposed and partially-mummified remains were found in two separate rooms of their house.

The arid New Mexico climate is believed to have played a role in preserving their skin and tissue.

Investigators fear they may have been dead for up to two weeks before being found, according to Daily Mail.

Hackman’s body was discovered in the mudroom adjacent to the kitchen with his sunglasses and cane on the floor nearby, leading to speculation that he may have died from a fall.

Meanwhile, Arakawa was found in the couple’s bathroom with an open bottle of prescription pills partially spilled on the counter.

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's pet dog was also discovered dead

During the 911 call, the dispatcher asked for details about the “patients,” but the caller was unable to provide their ages or genders.

He stood outside, looking through a window, as he made the call and reported no signs of movement inside the home.

Adding to the tragedy, one of the couple’s three pet dogs, a German Shepherd, was found dead inside a closet near the bathroom where Arakawa was found.

However, their two other dogs survived.

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's autopsy results expected in weeks

Authorities have stated that an autopsy could take four to six weeks to determine the official cause of death.

Initial reports suggested the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning, an idea echoed by Gene Hackman’s daughter, Elizabeth Hackman.

However, a firefighter who arrived at the scene later confirmed there were no signs of a gas leak.

Despite initial suspicions, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office has ruled out foul play.

Gene Hackman's illustrious career

Gene Hackman was one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors, known for his gritty performances and commanding screen presence.

He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1972 for his portrayal of a hard-nosed detective in 'The French Connection.'

He later secured Best Supporting Actor award at Oscars for the 1992 Western classic 'Unforgiven'.

His filmography includes classics such as 'Bonnie and Clyde,' 'The Poseidon Adventure,' 'Superman,' 'Mississippi Burning,' 'Postcards from the Edge,' 'The Firm,' 'Get Shorty,' 'The Birdcage,' and 'The Royal Tenenbaums.'

After a prolific career spanning six decades, Hackman retired from acting following the release of 'Welcome to Mooseport' in 2004.

He had spent his final years living a quiet life in Santa Fe where he had resided since the 1980s.