A family member of Gene Hackman has broken their silence, revealing surprising details about the plans made before the actor’s passing—and how they changed.

Shortly after Gene Hackman’s death on February 26, his nephew, Tim Hackman, revealed that the family had originally planned for Betsy Arakawa to handle Gene’s funeral arrangements, given their 31-year age gap. At the time of their passing, Betsy was 63, and Gene was 95.

As reported by The Daily Mail, Tim, 51, explained, “So the preparedness of it was that he would go first and that we would probably, maybe, depending on whatever it was [Betsy] had set up, would go down there and pay our condolences and everything.”

With Gene and Betsy passing unexpectedly, those plans were upended. “Now with this, it significantly changes things. I have no idea what – I’m assuming one of his kids will probably take over – and [plan]. I don’t know. It’s still very, very early,” Tim said.

He also revealed that the family first learned of the couple’s deaths through Gene’s daughter, Leslie Hackman, who had been in the closest contact with them. The news reached them on Wednesday night, just before it became public.

The news was shocking, as the family was unaware of any major health concerns. “I mean, he was old. I’m sure he had some [health] concerns, but nothing that was shared,” Tim said.

Tim last saw his uncle 11 years ago at his father Richard’s funeral. Richard was Gene’s brother, who had worked as his stuntman. Despite the time apart, Tim emphasized that Gene was not estranged from the family.

Instead, Gene preferred a quiet life and rarely traveled. “He only came to California during the warm weathers, and then he just stayed in New Mexico,” Tim added.

Most of Tim’s communication with Gene was through Betsy, as Gene had reached an age where he was not very communicative with the family.

“I was just basically giving her updates on my kids and how they were doing and how I was doing because our major connection was the military background, but that was it really,” Tim said.

Tim described Betsy as Gene’s primary caregiver, crediting her with helping him live as long as he did. “She’d just always say, ‘Oh, [Gene’s] doing good.’ I mean, he was moving around a lot for 95,” he recalled. With Gene’s funeral plans now uncertain, attention has shifted to the circumstances surrounding his wife’s death.

According to a search warrant obtained by TMZ, a Santa Fe detective discovered an open pill bottle with scattered pills near Besty’s body. The findings have fueled speculation online.

The detective reportedly noted the presence of three dogs—one roaming the property, another near Betsy’s body, and a third found dead inside a bathroom closet, about 10 to 15 feet away.

Authorities also said a heater had been moved and that Betsy’s husband was found dead in a separate room. However, the affidavit stated that there were no immediate signs of a gas leak.

As details surfaced, social media users quickly weighed in. One commenter simply wrote, “Strange .. very strange.” Another expressed skepticism, “Sounds staged, especially the scattered pills part..”

Others speculated about hidden motives and financial gain, with one suggesting that after the wife inherited millions, someone next in line silenced any remaining witnesses—including the pet.

Some initially suspected a different cause of death. One user shared, “This is heartbreaking to read, I honestly thought it was carbon monoxide poisoning until reading this article 😢🙏.”

Theories swirled as more netizens reacted to the unfolding mystery. Some believed that grief may have been too much for Betsy to bear.

Meanwhile, some dismissed the suspicions entirely, “Nothing weird about that💁‍♀️🙄.” Others questioned whether certain details at the scene had been deliberately staged.

Someone else theorized, “My guess is that he collapsed and died in the mudroom, maybe after exerting himself on a walk (at 95 years old, it could have been anything), and then she became distressed after finding him and took her own life. The dog could have also gotten into the pills or died of starvation/ thirst thereafter.”

However, not everyone joined the wave of conjecture—one urged restraint, pleading for people to stop making assumptions about the tragedy.

As authorities disclosed their findings, online discussions grew, but the circumstances surrounding the couple’s deaths remain unclear. The latest discoveries come after Gene and Betsy were found dead in their Santa Fe Summit home on the afternoon of Wednesday, February 26.

While foul play is not suspected, the investigation remains ongoing.

Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Denise Womack-Avila said that Sheriff deputies arrived at Hackman and Arakawa’s home on Old Sunset Trail to respond to a welfare check request at around 1:45 p.m.

A welfare check, or wellness check, is a service provided by law enforcement to check on someone’s well-being when there are concerns for their safety. Officers visit the individual to confirm they are safe and not in distress.

The welfare check at Gene and Betsy’s home ended up with the police finding a couple and a dog dead. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed just after midnight on Thursday that the two-time Oscar winner Hackman, his wife, and their dog had died.

Adan stated that there were no immediate signs of foul play but did not disclose a cause of death or estimate when the couple had passed.

The sheriff has also notified the public that he and his team are in the middle of preliminary investigations as they wait on the approval of the search warrant. He also assured the community of their safety, adding that they were in no imminent danger.

Gene Hackman, who had left the limelight, lived an adventurous life, experiencing a winding path before his Hollywood breakthrough. He was 36 when he gained recognition in 1967’s “Bonnie and Clyde,” a role he landed after missing out on playing Mr. Robinson in “The Graduate.”

Before that, he served in the Marines, struggled to make ends meet in California and New York. At times he shared an apartment with roommates, one who was “Graduate” star Dustin Hoffman. Hackman also took on various jobs, including working as a truck driver and doorman.

After his Hollywood debut, Gene starred in films like “The French Connection,” “Hoosiers,” “Unforgiven,” and “The Firm,” where his performances put him into the leading-man territory.

The actor, who often portrayed conflicted authority figures or cunning white-collar villains, brought depth and intensity to his roles.

His portrayal of Lex Luthor in the “Superman” films of the 1970s and 1980s remains one of his most recognizable performances. In this role, he showcased a mix of intelligence and menace.

Gene’s talent earned him two Academy Awards. He won his first Oscar for playing relentless New York cop Popeye Doyle in 1971’s “The French Connection.” Popeye was a detective whose pursuit of justice came at a steep personal cost.

In 1974’s “The Conversation,” he delivered a gripping performance as a surveillance expert whose obsession leads to paranoia. Gene’s second Oscar came in 1992 for his role as Little Bill Daggett in Clint Eastwood’s “Unforgiven.” Little Bill was a ruthless sheriff enforcing the law with brutal authority.

Aside from these films, Gene took on a wide range of roles, portraying villains, heroes, and antiheroes across dramas, comedies, and action films from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s.

In an interview with Empire, he shared his reasons for retiring at 74. “The straw that broke the camel’s back was actually a stress test that I took in New York. The doctor advised me that my heart wasn’t in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress,” he divulged.

Unlike many in Hollywood, he largely stayed out of the social spotlight after retiring, making only occasional appearances at award shows. His retirement remained permanent.

As for his personal life, Gene met Betsy in the mid-1980s while she was working part-time at a gym in California. The author and his wife soon moved in together and later settled in Santa Fe.

They purchased a large Southwestern-style ranch in a gated community with scenic views of the Rocky Mountains. Their home is located off Hyde Park Road just north of Ten Thousand Waves. Gene was a familiar presence in town and served on the board of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum during the 1990s.

In his later years, Gene focused on writing novels. While he had three children from a previous marriage, he and Betsy Arakawa did not have children together. In 1999, they adopted three German shepherds. The couple enjoyed watching films together, particularly smaller, independent productions.

Celebrities and fans have taken to social media to honor the late Hollywood icon. Oscar-winning director Francis Ford Coppola mourned the passing of the remarkable artist, noting that his death was both a moment of sorrow and a time to celebrate a legendary career.

“Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity. I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution,” Francis added.

Meanwhile, filmmaker Edgar Wright reacted to the news of Hackman’s death, writing, “The greatest.” George Takei has also spoken out, calling Hackman, “one of the true giants of the screen.”

He added, “Gene Hackman could play anyone, and you could feel a whole life behind it. He could be everyone and no one, a towering presence or an everyday Joe. That’s how powerful an actor he was.”

George reflected on Hackman’s legacy and said that as much as his presence will be deeply missed, his impact on cinema will endure for generations to come.