Gene Hackman, wife deaths' mystery deepens as mummified body and scattered pills found: Shocking details emerge

Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife appeared to have been dead for "quite a while" when the couple and their dog were found on Wednesday afternoon at their home in the US state of New Mexico, police said. The bodies were found Wednesday.

Denise Avila, a sheriff's office spokesperson, said there was no indication they had been shot or had any wounds that would indicate foul play. But Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office detectives wrote in a search warrant affidavit investigators thought the deaths were "suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation."

ALSO READ: Oscar-winning US actor Gene Hackman, wife and dog found dead inside New Mexico home

As mystery deepens in Gene Hackman's death, here are the top developments of the story:

-Gene Hackman, 95, was in an entryway, and his 65-year-old wife, Betsy Arakawa, was lying on her right side in the bathroom. A space heater was next to her head and may have fallen when she abruptly dropped to the floor, according to the affidavit.

-Gene Hackman's wife was found surrounded by pills scattered on the floor, according to police, as they launch an investigation into the couple's mysterious deaths.

-Hackman's wife was found mummified and bloated when the two were discovered dead at their multimillion-dollar home. The maintenance workers who initially discovered the quieted house said hadn't seen the couple in about two weeks, police wrote in an affidavit.

ALSO READ: Gene Hackman left US Marines at the age of 16 and went on to become 'uncommon' everyman actor: 10 points

-According to the search warrant affidavit, a maintenance worker reported that the home's front door was open when he arrived to do routine work Wednesday, and he called police after finding the bodies. But in a 911 call, the maintenance worker said he was unable to get inside when the operator asked whether the people in the house were breathing.

-Authorities found the door to the couple’s home “unsecured and opened” and an open orange prescription pill bottle and pills scattered around the room where Hackman’s wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, and one of their German shepherd dogs were discovered, according to New York Post.

-Deputies noted that it appeared Arakawa had “obvious signs of death, body decomposition, bloating in her face and mummification in both hands and feet” when she was found on the floor of a bathroom near the home’s entry, according to the report.

-The couple’s deceased dog was located about 10 to 15 feet away from Arakawa inside the bathroom’s closet, deputies wrote in the report. Hackman’s body was located in what deputies believe was the mudroom near a pair of sunglasses. Officers wrote in the report that it appeared he had “suddenly fallen.”

ALSO READ: Gene Hackman's films that should not be missed
-Authorities said there was no indication of a struggle and no indication of anything that was missing from the home or disturbed, you know, that would be indication that there was a crime that had occurred, according to news agency AP.

-Hackman’s body had “obvious signs of death, similar and consistent with the female decedent,” police wrote in the report. Deputies also noted two other “healthy” dogs located on the property, one inside the residence and one outside, according to the report.

-Fire department officials who responded reported finding no signs of a carbon monoxide leak or poisoning, according to the report. Hackman was a five-time Oscar nominee who won best actor in a leading role for "The French Connection" in 1972 and best actor in a supporting role for "Unforgiven" two decades later. His death comes just four days before this year's ceremony.

(With inputs from AP)