Title: Oscar-winner Gene Hackman, wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog were dead for some time before being found

Investigators have not yet determined whether Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, died at the same time. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said on NBC's "Today" show Friday morning, "It looks like it's been several days, possibly even weeks."

The bodies of the two were discovered on Wednesday. Sheriff's office spokesman, Denise Avila, said there were no signs that they had been shot or any wounds to indicate foul play. However, detectives from the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office wrote in a search warrant affidavit that investigators believe the two deaths were "suspicious in nature and require a thorough search and investigation."

According to the search warrant affidavit, a handyman reported that the front door of the house was open when he arrived to do routine work on Wednesday. After discovering the bodies, he called the police. "No, man, they're not moving. Get someone over here quick," the caller said. Upon responding to the call, police found Arakawa's body on the floor inside the bathroom next to an orange prescription pill bottle with pills scattered on the floor. The affidavit stated that the body "showed obvious signs of death, with bodily decomposition, facial swelling, and mummification to the hands and feet."

Arakawa was lying on her right side in the bathroom at the time. A space heater was next to her head, possibly having fallen when she suddenly collapsed. Hackman's body was then found on the floor near the kitchen in a similar state, with a cane and a pair of sunglasses next to his body. A deputy suspected he had suddenly fallen, the affidavit stated. A German Shepherd was also found dead in the bathroom. Police clarified that the dog was in a cage; the affidavit said the dog was in a closet. Two healthy dogs were found on the property. The handyman told police they had not been in contact with the homeowners for two weeks.

The sheriff's office planned to hold a news conference Friday afternoon to provide an update on the case. Mendoza previously stated, "There's no indication of a struggle." "There's no indication that anything was missing or disrupted in the home to indicate foul play." Sheriff's officials said that autopsy results on the two bodies have not been released, and carbon monoxide and toxicology test results are still pending.

Laurie Levenson, a law professor at Loyola Marymount University, said the search warrant affidavit suggests police appear to have a preliminary theory that there was "some kind of gas poisoning," but they are currently unclear and are not ruling out any possibilities. Levenson, who is not involved in the investigation of this case, said, "They don't have definitive evidence of any type of murder, but they are looking for a blunt object or something else that might have been used as a weapon. It also doesn't seem like some sort of planned double suicide."

Jeffrey Bellin, a professor at William & Mary Law School, said it is somewhat unusual to apply for a search warrant because investigators filing a search warrant typically believe a specific crime has occurred. Bellin said that in this case, there is no mention of any alleged crime. Bellin, who is also not involved in the investigation of this case, said that police tend to exaggerate what they know, but this time it is the opposite. "My impression is that it is very cautious, and search warrant affidavits are usually not," he said.

New Mexico Gas Company tested the gas lines inside and outside the house after the bodies were discovered. At the time, it found no signs of any problems, and the fire department found no signs of carbon monoxide leaks or poisoning. A detective wrote that there were no obvious signs of a gas leak, but he noted that people exposed to gas leaks or carbon monoxide may not show signs of poisoning.

The rugged but beloved Hackman was one of the most distinguished actors of his generation, playing villains, heroes, and anti-heroes in dozens of dramas, comedies, and action films from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 21st century. His daughter and grandchildren said in a statement Thursday, "He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us, he was simply Dad and Grandpa." "We will miss him terribly and are heartbroken by his loss."