Gene Hackman and wife had been ‘dead for some time,’ says warrant
ArchiveFirst published March 3, 2025. It may not reflect later developments.
Two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 63, were found deceased in separate rooms of their Santa Fe mansion. Authorities believe they had been dead for some time before being discovered. One of their dogs was also found dead.
Hackman’s daughter, Elizabeth, expressed her grief, telling TMZ, “The house is fairly modern, built in 2000, but we don’t know if there were any issues with gas leaks or if there were any recent service calls to the property.” However, officials ruled out a gas leak as the cause of death.
According to the Associated Press, Hackman was found in a mudroom, while Arakawa was in a bathroom next to a space heater. Investigators found pills scattered in the bathroom. Though there was no indication of foul play, a search warrant stated the deaths were “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation.”
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adam Mendoza said determining their last known contact was difficult as they were “very private individuals.” Toxicology results, expected in three months, may provide answers.
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