Gene Hackman’s 911 caller distraught over couple’s mysterious death, says they treated people ‘like gold’

The man who called 911 after finding the bodies of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa is still distraught over the couple’s mysterious deaths.

Jesse Kesler, the man who made the urgent 911 call after finding the bodies of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa, is still distraught over the couple’s mysterious deaths.

Mr Kesler, who knew the couple well, declined to describe what he saw when he arrived at the actor’s home and made the grisly discovery on February 26, but told Fox News Digital that he is “heartbroken”.

The owner of MudCity Builders in Santa Fe, he served as a personal contractor for Hackman and Arakawa for over 16 years.

Mr Kesler issued an official statement on Saturday, sharing that he will “never” comment on the “tragic event” that led to the deaths of the couple due to their privacy. However, he did want to share a few words about the couple.

Gene Hackman Betsy Arakawa at the Golden Globes. Picture: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

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“Gene and Betsy, thank you for the 16-plus years of opportunity, friendship and trust,” he began.

“Gene Hackman, thank you for lending a hand on projects over the years. I could not believe at the time I was actually working side by side with a legend. Thank you for treating my sons and employees so well and as equals. When on the job you were just another one of the guys. Thank you for all the stories which I will always remember and will cherish forever.

“Betsy Hackman, thank you for the years of friendship, generosity, opportunity and trust. Thank you for your love for dogs, including my own. Thank you for all the advice and consoling. Thank you for being such a beautiful person.”

The couple were found dead in their New Mexico home on Wednesday. Picture: Roberto Rosales/AP

Mr Kesler concluded, “You both will always be near and dear to my heart and greatly missed. Love you both!”

Authorities believe Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 63, had been dead for more than a week, but have not yet determined the cause of either’s death.

Audio of Mr Kesler’s 911 call was obtained by Fox News Channel on Wednesday. In it, Mr Kesler frantically pleaded for police to immediately rush to the New Mexico residence. In the recording, he can be heard telling the operator that he “found two or one deceased person[s] inside a house”.

“Please send somebody really quick,” Mr Kesler urged.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza. Picture: Sam Wasson/Getty Images

Mr Kesler said Hackman and Arakawa treated people “like gold,” and that he, his son and all of his employees remembered only pleasant encounters with the couple.

Leading up to the strange death, Mr Kesler said he never noticed anything unusual and he wanted people to remember Hackman and Arakawa as “beautiful people, kind-hearted and generous”.

A criminal investigation into the death of Hackman and his wife was launched on Wednesday after New Mexico authorities deemed the deaths, and that of one of their dogs, suspicious. Officials confirmed no external trauma was seen on either Hackman or Arakawa, and the case remains open pending autopsy and toxicology results.

Hackman with his daughters in 1978. Picture: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

The bodies of Hackman and Arakawa tested negative for carbon monoxide poisoning and the Oscar-winning actor likely died about nine days before his body was discovered by authorities, officials have revealed.

During a news conference on Friday, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed the last event noted on Hackman’s pacemaker was February 17. When asked if February 17 — nine days before his body was found — could be the day Hackman died, Mr Mendoza noted that was a logical conclusion.

“According to the pathologist, I think that is a very good assumption that that was his last day of life,” Mr Mendoza said. He also confirmed after a discussion with the medical examiner that Hackman and his wife “tested negative for carbon monoxide”.

Gene Hackman, Wes Anderson and Bill Murray on the set of The Royal Tenenbaums. Picture: Supplied

“The manner and cause of death has not been determined,” Mr Mendoza said.

Although Mr Kesler declined to elaborate on what he saw, he was heard on audio crying and repeatedly saying “damn” as the dispatcher spoke to paramedics.

“[The house] is closed. It’s locked. I can’t go in,” he said. “But I see that she is lying down on the floor from the window.”

The caller told the dispatcher that Hackman and his wife were not “awake” or “alert”.

“No, dude, they’re not moving! Just send somebody out here really quick!” the man on the 911 call said with urgency.

Fox News Digital’s Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this report

This article originally appeared on Fox News and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Gene Hackman’s 911 caller distraught over couple’s mysterious death, says they treated people ‘like gold’