Leslie Hackman, daughter of legendary actor Jean Hackman, spoke publicly for the first time in the course of the mystical deaths of her father and stepmother Betsy Arakawa.
The couple discovered they died Wednesday in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and were discovered by their neighbors after showing signs of decomposition. Jean, 95, and Betsy, 64, are in separate rooms, with one of their dogs found dead with them. Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of death, but Leslie, 58, speculates that carbon monoxide leaks could be the cause.
In an interview with DailymailLeslie said the family was still handling the losses, adding that her father was in good health despite his age. “He was very active and regularly did Pilates and yoga,” she shared. Leslie said their communication had been limited recently as she lives in California, but everything seemed normal before their death.
Leslie and her sister Elizabeth Jean Hackman are waiting for further details from law enforcement to determine the exact circumstances of their parents’ deaths. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office reported that the body had not been found for at least one day before it was found.
Jean’s nephew Tim Hackman also spoke. Dailymailrevealed that he learned of death through Leslie. He pointed out that his genes were relatively healthy and believed that his aunt Betsy played an important role in maintaining his happiness. “I really believe he made it the way he did for her,” Tim said.
Gene Hackman, who retired from acting in 2004, lived a hidden life in New Mexico with Betsy, who married in 1991. The couple has been together for over 30 years.