'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAb/xAAfEAACAQQDAQEAAAAAAAAAAAABAgQAAxEhBQYSFUH/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAv/EABoRAAICAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAhEDEiH/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AIHiOwxOpxo0j50W/wAhYUs07z5KuG8YXRZip2WOM41+GoSXyEW9LvXLsEvcd2ZmBUZJOzSlCxRuyG+an//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
On February 26, the world was made aware of the sad demise of veteran actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa. Aside from the usual feeling of grief for fans, there was a huge element of mystery attached to the news, which pertained to the condition in which the bodies of the deceased couple were found.
Gene Hackman and his wife’s bodies were found decomposing in separate rooms of their Santa Fe house. In a press conference on February 28, Adam Mendoza, the Santa Fe County Sheriff, reported that according to Hackman’s pacemaker, the actor had most likely died on February 17. In a clip of the conference released by CBS News, Mendoza revealed,
“An initial interrogation was conducted of Mr. Hackman’s pacemaker. This revealed that his last event was recorded on February 17, 2025. According to the pathologist, I think that is a very good assumption that that was his last day of life.”
The pacemaker is an essential device implanted to control the functioning of the heart.
The mysterious circumstances surrounding Gene Hackman and his wife’s deaths
Two maintenance workers who arrived at the two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman’s residence on Wednesday afternoon were the first ones to notice two unconscious bodies in the house through the window, according to CNN. The police were informed of the situation by the workers in a 911 call.
Santa Fe patrol first found Gene Hackman’s spouse’s body in a bathroom next to strewn prescription pills, according to CNN.
Soon after, Hackman’s body was found in the kitchen, where he was lying on the ground. Apart from the couple, the police also found a dead German Shepherd dog in a crate in the bathroom.
The police also found two live dogs on the premises. One of the dogs was near Arakawa’s body in the bathroom, and the other dog was found in the compound outside the house.
The door was found to be unlocked, but the police did not find any proof of forcible entry.
In the investigation into the deaths, local police were confronted with several unanswered questions. Detective Roy Arndt applied for a search warrant, and his application read,
“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.”
Upon approval of the search warrant by Santa Fe Magistrate Court through Judge John Rysanek, Hackman’s residence was thoroughly searched, as per Variety.
CBS News reported that the police recovered multiple objects from the residence, including medication, medical records, cell phones, and the couple’s monthly planner.
Other facts regarding Gene Hackman and his wife’s death revealed by Sheriff Mendoza
While Santa Fe County Sheriff Adam Mendoza reported to the media that no proof of foul play was found, the cops will keep considering such a possibility in their investigation.
Mendoza also said in his press conference that the preliminary autopsy reports did not point towards any “external trauma” on the bodies. The cause of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s deaths was not yet ascertained, and toxicology reports were awaited.
He also revealed that the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator told him that the couple did not show signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Trending
Earlier, Detective Arndt’s search warrant affidavit had also revealed that tests conducted to ascertain whether there was any carbon monoxide leak in Hackman’s residence found no evidence pointing toward such a leak. The report also mentioned that employees of a gas company verified that there were no signs of any gas leak.
Undoubtedly, fans and well-wishers of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa would be looking towards the Santa Fe authorities for a successful resolution and closure of the investigation into their sudden deaths.
Your perspective matters!
Start the conversation
