Investigation continues into ‘suspicious’ deaths of Gene Hackman, wife

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), Brock Koller (Senior Producer), Shea Taylor (Producer), Kaleb Gillespie (Video Editor)

Santa Fe authorities discovered legendary actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, dead in their New Mexico home under suspicious circumstances, prompting a full investigation. Police have ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning but await autopsy and toxicology reports.
A maintenance worker discovered the couple’s bodies, along with their deceased German shepherd, with no signs of forced entry or foul play.
The investigation remains ongoing, with autopsy results expected in 4-6 weeks.

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Authorities in Santa Fe, New Mexico, continue to investigate the deaths of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa. A maintenance worker discovered the couple’s bodies in their home on Wednesday, Feb. 26, along with their deceased German shepherd.

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While police discovered no immediate signs of foul play or forced entry, they found Hackman, 95, lying near the kitchen. They discovered Arakawa, 65, in a bathroom with an open prescription bottle and scattered pills nearby.

Law enforcement classified the circumstances as “suspicious enough” to warrant a full investigation.

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Who discovered the couple?

A maintenance worker conducting pest control found the couple’s bodies and called 911 after seeing them lying on the floor through a window.

First responders found both bodies in an advanced state of decomposition, suggesting they had been dead for an extended period.

The sheriff’s office stated that no valuables appeared missing from the home.

What do authorities know so far?

Investigators have ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning, as fire officials and gas company crews found no leaks in or around the home. However, law enforcement has not yet determined a cause of death, pending autopsy and toxicology reports.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza emphasized that while they did not find signs of struggle, investigators will not treat the deaths as routine.

How is the film industry responding?

Hollywood widely respected Hackman, an Academy Award-winning actor known for films such as “The French Connection,” “Unforgiven” and “Hoosiers.” The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will honor him at this year’s Oscars ceremony.

In a statement, Hackman’s family expressed their grief.

“We are devastated by the loss of our father, Gene Hackman, and his wife, Betsy. To the world, he was a brilliant actor, but to us, he was Dad and Grandpa.”

What happens next?

Autopsy results and toxicology tests will take four to six weeks.

Authorities continue to investigate the timeline of events leading to their deaths, with no immediate suspects or indications of external involvement. The case remains open as investigators work to determine what happened inside the couple’s Santa Fe home.

Tags: Death, Investigation, New Mexico, Police, Police officers

[craig nigrelli]

NOW TO THE latest on the DEATH OF ACTOR GENE HACKMAN AND HIS WIFE, Betsy Arakawa IN SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO. THE COUNTY SHERIFF SAYS WHILE THERE ARE NO obvious SIGNS OF FOUL PLAY, nothing HAS BEEN RULED OUT — calling their deaths “suspicious.”

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, A MAINTENANCE MAN, DOING PEST CONTROL, DISCOVERED THE COUPLE DEAD IN THE HOME, IN A GATED COMMUNITY. DEPUTIES ARRIVED AND FOUND THE 95-YEAR-OLD ACTOR, DOWN, NEAR THE KITCHEN IN WHAT APPEARED TO BE A MUD ROOM. ACCORDING TO A SEARCH WARRANT, A CANE AND SUNGLASSES WERE NEAR HIS BODY.

THEY DISCOVERED HIS WIFE’S BODY IN A BATHROOM WITH A SPACE HEATER NEARBY. THE WARRANT INDICATES THERE WAS AN OPEN PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE ON THE COUNTER AND PILLS WERE SCATTERED EVERYWHERE.

BASED ON THE SAME, SEARCH WARRANT DEPUTIES BELIEVED THE COUPLE SUDDENLY FELL. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF FORCED ENTRY AND NO INDICATION OF A STRUGGLE AND THE SHERIFF SAYS NOTHING APPEARED TO BE MISSING FROM THE HOME.

THE SANTA FE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT DID NOT FIND ANY SIGNS OF A CARBON MONOXIDE LEAK.

INVESTIGATORS ARE NOW WAITING FOR AUTOPSY RESULTS, AS WELL AS TOXICOLOGY REPORTS.