Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 63, were found dead in their Santa Fe home on February 26. Authorities have not disclosed the cause of death but confirmed that one of their dogs was also deceased. Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated that a preliminary investigation is ongoing.
Hackman’s daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie, and his granddaughter, Annie, expressed their devastation, saying, “To the world, he was a brilliant actor, but to us, he was Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely.”
Authorities have not ruled out foul play, though no external trauma was found. A maintenance worker discovered the couple after finding the front door unlocked. Betsy was on the bathroom floor near a space heater, with a spilled prescription bottle nearby. Hackman was found in another room with a cane and sunglasses, suggesting a sudden fall. Betsy showed signs of decomposition.
Investigators ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning, with the Santa Fe Fire Department and New Mexico Gas Company finding no leaks. Police are conducting a thorough search as the circumstances remain “suspicious enough” to warrant further inquiry.
