Gene Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa, appeared to have been deceased for “some time” before her body was discovered at the couple’s home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Arakawa was 64 at the time of her death, while Hackman, whose body was found in a different room, was 95.
Authorities informed the outlet that Arakawa’s body was “in a state of decomposition,” with her face bloated and her hands and feet showing signs of mummification.
Her body was discovered by two maintenance workers on Wednesday, February 26, who also found Hackman’s remains. The workers reported that they had not seen the couple for approximately two weeks.
Additionally, the workers found one of the couple’s dogs, a German Shepherd, dead about 10 to 15 feet away from Arakawa. However, two other dogs inside the home were found alive and in good health.
Arakawa’s body was located in the bathroom near a countertop. Authorities discovered an open prescription bottle with pills “scattered on the countertop,” along with a black space heater that appeared to have toppled over beside her.
It also reported that Hackman was found in a room adjacent to the kitchen. Nearby, a pair of sunglasses suggested he may have collapsed unexpectedly.
Gene Hackman and His Wife
Hackman and Arakawa had been married since 1991. The initial investigation did not reveal any signs of foul play, though an official cause of death has yet to be determined.
Hackman’s daughter, Elizabeth, told that she suspects carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause. (Hackman also shared children Christopher and Leslie with his late ex-wife, Faye Maltese.)
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office released a statement saying:
“On February 26, 2025, at approximately 1:45 p.m., Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to an address on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park where Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, and a dog were found deceased.
Foul play is not suspected as a factor in those deaths at this time, however, [the] exact cause of death has not been determined.”
The Santa Fe Fire Department did not immediately detect any evidence of carbon monoxide poisoning. Additionally, the New Mexico Gas Company told, “As of now, there are no signs or evidence indicating there were any problems associated to the pipes in and around the residence.”
No signs of forced entry were found at the scene. However, law enforcement has reportedly classified the deaths of Hackman and Arakawa as “suspicious.” As of Thursday morning, police are awaiting approval of a search warrant to proceed with their investigation.
