They hadn't been seen in weeks and the bodies were "decomposed."
https://deadline.com/2025/02/gene-hackman-death-suspicious-police-1236303855/
“Affiant believes that the circumstances surrounding the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation because the reporting party found the front door of the residence unsecured and opened, deputies observed a healthy dog running loose on the property, another healthy dog near the deceased female, a deceased dog laying 10-15 feet from the deceased female in a closet of the bathroom, the heater being moved, the pill bottle being opened and pills scattered next to the female, the male decedent being located in a separate room of the residence, and no obvious signs of a gas leak,” the document adds.
Two men who worked on Hackman’s property reported the decomposed bodies in the home on Wednesday. The 30-year long married couple had not been seen for a few weeks, sources say.
He was in so much great shit. I saw Mississippi Burning for the first time a few years ago. I'll have to think about my favorite Hackman movies. The French Connection absolutely holds up. One of the greatest car chase scenes in cinematic history.