The investigation into the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, is ongoing, according to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adam Mendoza. During a recent press conference, Mendoza revealed that their bodies tested negative for carbon monoxide poisoning.
Authorities believe that Hackman died on February 17, as his pacemaker recorded its last event on that date. However, there is still uncertainty about the order of their deaths.
Autopsy and toxicology reports are still pending, which may take several weeks to months. Initial findings indicate no signs of external trauma on either individual.
As part of the investigation, police collected several items from their home, including two phones, medications, and a 2025 planner. Unfortunately, there were no security cameras that could provide crucial information, so investigators are interviewing people from the couple’s gated community.
Hackman, who was 95, and Arakawa, 65, were found in their Santa Fe home along with one of their dogs. Authorities do not suspect foul play but deemed the situation “suspicious.” They were discovered after a maintenance worker requested a welfare check.
Arakawa was found on a bathroom floor, with an open pill bottle and scattered pills nearby. Hackman was located in the mudroom, and a German Shepherd was found in a nearby closet. Two other dogs were unharmed and were taken care of by the county’s animal control.
Reports from the fire department and gas company concluded that there were no signs of a gas leak, supporting earlier findings about carbon monoxide. Leslie Anne Hackman, Gene’s daughter, spoke to the media, emphasizing that her father was in good health for his age and had not undergone any major surgeries recently. She highlighted the loving relationship between her parents and expressed her sorrow over her mother’s passing.
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Betsy Arakawa,Gene Hackman