Authorities have shared further information regarding he deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa.
Warning: This article contains information some people will find upsetting.
On Wednesday evening, police revealed that the legendary actor and the classical pianist were found dead in their multi-million dollar Santa Fe, New Mexico home, along with one of their German Shepherd dogs.
Their deaths, though not immediately ruled as foul play, have been deemed “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation,” according to an affidavit released by authorities.
Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 63, were discovered on February 26, 2025, by maintenance workers who hadn’t seen the couple in about two weeks, the New York Post reports.
When deputies arrived at the couple’s $3.3 million residence —an 8,000-square-foot home situated on six acres — they found the front door “unsecured and opened,” with no apparent signs of forced entry or theft.
Disturbing Scene Inside the Home
Authorities found Arakawa’s body in a bathroom near the home’s entrance. The affidavit noted she had “obvious signs of death, body decomposition, bloating in her face and mummification in both hands and feet.”
A black space heater was found near her head, and an open orange pill bottle with scattered pills lay nearby.
The couple’s deceased dog was discovered roughly 10 to 15 feet away inside the bathroom’s closet.
Hackman’s body was located in what deputies believe was the mudroom, near a pair of sunglasses. Like his wife, he showed “obvious signs of death, similar and consistent with the female decedent.” Authorities wrote that it appeared he had “suddenly fallen”.
Two other dogs, both “healthy,” were found on the property — one inside the residence and another outside.
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No Clear Cause of Death Yet
Despite the unsettling conditions, there were no immediate indications of a gas leak or carbon monoxide poisoning, as confirmed by fire department officials.
The New Mexico Gas Co. is assisting the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department in the ongoing investigation.
Sheriff Adan Mendoza acknowledged the mystery surrounding the deaths, stating: “This is an active investigation, but at this time, we do not believe there was any crime.”
Hollywood Mourns a Legend
Hackman’s passing marks the end of an era in Hollywood.
The two-time Academy Award-winning actor starred in iconic films such as The French Connection, Unforgiven, Bonnie and Clyde, and The Royal Tenenbaums.
He retired from acting in 2004, shifting his focus to writing and painting, and had largely withdrawn from the public eye.
Arakawa, a classical pianist, married Hackman in 1991, and the couple spent decades enjoying a quiet life in Santa Fe. Their deaths have sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and among fans worldwide.
As investigators work to determine what led to the couple’s tragic end, tributes continue to pour in, celebrating Hackman’s legendary career and the life he shared with Arakawa.
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