Haunting first photos inside Gene Hackman's £3m mansion where he was found 'mummified'

Grim new photos have exposed the shocking conditions inside the New Mexico home where Hollywood icon and his wife Betsy were found dead. The 95-year-old winner and his 65-year-old wife were discovered on February 26, after a contractor and security guard stumbled upon their mummified bodies and alerted authorities. It was later revealed that Betsy had died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome - a rare and deadly illness caused by a virus found in rodent droppings and urine - likely around February 12.

Hackman, who suffered from Alzheimer's and kidney disease, died just days later on February 18 from severe heart disease. Investigators believe the reclusive star may not have realised his wife had passed due to his declining health. Police bodycam footage revealed heartbreaking scenes inside the home, including their devastated German Shepherd dog standing guard over Betsy's lifeless body. The home itself was cluttered with piles of clothes, documents, photos and household items with a bathtub overrun with items.

Some rooms were filled to the brim with clothes, pill packets and dog beds, while a dressing room was stacked high with shirts, dresses, jeans and boxes of shoes.

A gym area contained a boxing bag and weights, and the games room was still equipped with a snooker table and arcade machines.

Photos showed evidence of the couple's passion for their pets, with framed pictures of their beloved German Shepherds displayed around the house.

A series of heartbreaking notes were also found dotted around the house, each exchanged between Betsy and Gene and showing the couple's affection for one another until the end.

Three dogs were found on the property - two survived, but 12-year-old Zinna was found dead in her crate, likely from starvation and dehydration. Bear and Nikita have since been rehomed.

Rosettes from dog competitions and German Shepherd-themed calendars were also found throughout the home, alongside pet supplies and pictures of the couple with their dogs from over the years.

Despite the chaos in some parts of the house, the kitchen appeared almost untouched - stocked with bottles of beer and wine, and still clean. But elsewhere, the images painted a grim picture: filthy surfaces, rotting food, blood-stained bedding, and piles of medications scattered around.

Betsy was found on the floor of the bathroom next to a portable heater and pills, while Hackman was discovered in the mudroom. "He showed signs of active decay, including blackened hands with tissue breakdown," detective Joel Cano wrote in his report.

Police released records and bodycam footage this week, after a court ruled most of the materials should be public.

The documents included heartbreaking insight into Betsy's final days - her emails, calls and internet history revealed she was worried about flu-like symptoms and searching for breathing techniques and concierge medical help.

Between February 8 and 12, Betsy looked up information on COVID and flu-related conditions.

She had even emailed her masseuse saying Hackman had woken on February 11 with cold-like symptoms. A missed call from a concierge service on February 12 suggested she was still seeking help that day.

The couple's mansion was also inspected by the New Mexico Department of Public Health, who found dead rodents and nests in eight detached outbuildings, classifying the estate as a "breeding ground" for the deadly hantavirus.

There were also two vehicles seen on the estate that had evidence of rodents, and they even found traps in the buildings as well, suggesting this had been an ongoing issue for the Hackmans.

Rodent droppings were found in garages, sheds and even inside vehicles - though the main house was deemed low-risk.