Investigation on the mysterious death of an Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawait is obvious that although authorities are discovering some answers surrounding their deaths – There are many unknowns.
Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 64, died Wednesday, February 26 in Santa Fe, New Mexico with one of their three dogs. The other two animals were found alive and still on property.
“We are very sad to announce the death of our father Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy,” a statement from representatives of Hackman on behalf of his family. “His outstanding acting career has been loved and admired by millions of people all over the world, but to us, he has always been just dad and grandpa. We will miss him so much and be destroyed by the loss.”
Hackman’s three adult children Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie survived from his first marriage to his ex-wife Faye Maltese.
There is no reason to suspect their death foul, but the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department still cannot rule it out or announce the cause of death and determine that the situation surrounding the death is suspicious enough to guarantee a “thorough investigation.”
As authorities continue to seek answers, keep scrolling on some of the biggest questions about Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths and some possible answers.
How did Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa die?
The most important question is how this happens – Limited answers point out why, but a range of information eliminates some more obvious possibilities.
Authorities said there was no sign of being forced into the home, nor any signs of struggle, with only two human bodies and a pet suddenly dying. The investigation affidavit says that Hackman’s daughter Elizabeth initially suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, but the fire department found no signs of leakage at the scene.
On Friday, February 28, the county sheriff’s press conference Adan Mendoza Hackman and his wife “tested negatively on carbon monoxide” that could rule it out of possible causes of death.
But, as Mendoza noted on Friday that the pathologists assigned to the case “will be the pathologists who exclude toxic gases as the cause of death”, it did not completely rule out some type of gas poisoning.
Arakawa’s body was found in the bathroom above her head. Next to her body was a bottle of prescription medicine scattered on the floor. According to the search warrant, authorities found Tylenol, an unspecified thyroid drug and diltiazem, a drug used to treat high blood pressure.
Then Hackman’s body was found on the ground near the kitchen, in a similar situation – a pair of sunglasses and the actor’s crutches lie beside him, indicating that he had suddenly fallen. Neither Hackman nor Arakawa’s bodies showed any signs of external trauma – meaning it was unlikely to die from a violent fall – nor were there any signs of an immediate foul, according to authorities.
Hackman’s daughter Leslie told US Weekly Although his memories are disappearing, her famous father is usually in a state of “physical health”. “But everyone is fine.” Leslie, 58, called the death of Hackman and her stepmother Arakawa “very strange”, saying “there is no sign that there is any problem in their family … never had any problems.”
Medical Investigator State Office Spokesperson Chris Ramirez It may take four to six weeks to complete the cause of death, said. Mendoza told NBC toxicology reports that could take longer — three months or more.
When did they die?
During Friday’s press conference, Mendoza shared that Hackman’s pacemaker indicated that the actor’s “last event” was recorded on February 17.
“According to the pathologist, I think it’s a good assumption, that’s the last day of his life,” the sheriff explained.
The affidavit said that Alakava’s body “displayed obvious death, body breakdown, swollen swelling on her face and mummy on her feet (SIC).
Keiko, the long-time housekeeper of Arakawa’s mother, told Daily Mail In an interview released on Friday, February 28, Arakawa did not call his mother for several months.
“The last time she called was October,” she explained. “We were thinking, what happened.”
But Hackman’s pacemaker recordings were not revealed if Arakawa died the same day as Hackman, though Mendoza believes their death schedule is likely to be “very close.” On Friday, he reiterated that it was “very difficult determination” to determine who died first, adding that he did not believe that even medical examiners could “make a decision based on the initial autopsy.”
“There is no indication that anyone is walking around the house or doing anything different, so it’s hard to determine if they pass at the same time or where they’re passing together very close,” he said.
Why does it take so long to find out that their bodies take?
After maintenance workers found the body, they said they had not heard from Hackman and Arakawa about two weeks.
A caller told 911 that they could see two unconscious people through the window but could not enter the house. us.
“No, man, they didn’t move,” the caller said in the recording. “Just send someone here soon.”
The possible reason for not immediately discovering one’s body is most likely due to the 19th pandemic.
According to the couple’s long-term friends, Daniel and Barbara Lenihan“Arakawa has taken measures like concealment to make sure her husband doesn’t get sick,” CNN and “because of their health problems, because their health problems are in the wake of the COVID-19-19 pandemic,” the couple “has not seen “Hackman and Arakawa” in the past few years.
“Until a year ago, he was still riding his bike, Betty had him do yoga and different things at home at Zoom and trying to stay very healthy, she feeds him well,” she told the publication. “They were so pleasant. Maybe never saw a couple who got along and enjoyed each other.”
According to Mendoza, Hackman and Arakawa are “very private people and a private family” and neither has appeared in public since March 2024, which also helps delay their body discovery.
Although the death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa is being formally investigated, his daughter Leslie Anne Allen has several questions. Leslie, 58, exclusively told America shortly after the news that I was so eager to find out what was going on, I just didn’t know how long they’ve been dead. ” […]
What are the authorities still investigating?
Mendoza described the prescription drug found near Arakawa’s body as “important evidence” for pathologists and medical examiners to determine the cause and mode of death.
In addition to the medication, authorities have retrieved several items from the couple’s homes to help them with the ongoing investigation, including two green cellular devices, records from Myquest – Medical Diagnostic Services, and monthly planners for 2025.
How the above helps the authorities seek the cause of death. According to CNN, the couple’s gated community’s security log could help investigators determine who looks at the estimated time of the couple’s death.
Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Get Images A preliminary autopsy on the body of the late Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, showed no signs of “external trauma to any one”. The Academy Award winner and his wife were inspected by Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santa Fe, New Mexico after being found dead on Thursday, February 27 […]
Why did only 1 of their 3 dogs kill 1?
One of the three German shepherds in the family was found about 10 to 15 feet from the body of Alakava in the dog box, although initial reports were initially reported that German Shepard was found in a closet.
The other two dogs were found alive outside their homes and are now under Santa Fe animal control.
If a toxin of some type leaks into the house, the dog inside will die, while the two outside survive. The sheriff’s office said that if Hackman and Arakawa’s autopsy required it, an autopsy on the deceased dog could be performed.
