Gene Hackman and wife dead for days or weeks before authorities found their bodies

Death of actor Gene Hackman sends shockwaves through local arts community

The sudden death this week of two-time Academy Award-winning actor and longtime Santa Fe resident Gene Hackman and his wife, the classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, sent shockwaves through the local arts community. Hackman and Arakawa, who moved to New Mexico in the 1980s, established themselves as generous and beloved patrons of the arts.

SANTA FE — What led to the deaths of two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman, his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog is still unclear.

But authorities say new evidence revealed the couple may have been dead for days or even weeks before their bodies were found Wednesday afternoon at the family’s sprawling mountain home.

Hackman’s pacemaker revealed “his last event was recorded on February 17,” Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said during a news conference on Friday.

“According to the pathologist, I think it’s a very good assumption that was his last day of life,” Mendoza said to a cluster of microphones and, behind them, reporters from across the world.

Law enforcement and fire officials revealed tests have “possibly” ruled out carbon monoxide as a potential cause of death, according to Mendoza and Santa Fe Fire Department Chief Brian Moya, though authorities will not rule it out until a pathologist reports further. Mendoza said the cause of death “is still unknown.”

Moya said fire crews monitored the house for carbon monoxide twice, once on the day the bodies were found and again on Thursday when authorities searched the home and collected a monthly planner, thyroid and blood pressure medication, Tylenol, two cellphones and the family’s health records.

“We have our meters do multiple readings across multiple spectrums,” Moya said of the carbon monoxide testing. “None of our meters picked up anything in the house.”

Arakawa was found with her body decomposed, with her hands and feet mummified, and pills scattered nearby inside the couple’s Santa Fe residence. Moya said the process of mummification takes roughly two weeks.

There were no apparent signs of foul play or indications that the couple suffered any head trauma, according to Mendoza. An initial autopsy did not reveal who died first.

“In this case, it seems like we’re doing a reverse timeline,” Mendoza said. “We’re doing a timeline from the time of death and the autopsy and the results, and we’re going to start working our way backwards.”

The bodies were transported to the New Mexico Office of Medical Investigator on Thursday, and law enforcement said further investigation will be done following the expedited autopsy and toxicology report, though Mendoza said the results could take months.

“We will look and try to gain access to the cellphones... calls, text messages, events, photos in the cellphone, to try to piece a timeline together,” Mendoza said.

Hackman and Arakawa were found dead inside their residence at approximately 1:45 p.m. Feb. 26 after Santa Fe Regional Emergency Communications Center received a call from two individuals from Hoam Co. — a maintenance company. According to reports, maintenance workers grew concerned after receiving no communication from Hackman and Arakawa and reached out to neighborhood security.

Investigation showed the two died in separate rooms, along with their brown German shepherd — which was found dead in a closet near the bathroom where Arakawa was found. Two dogs were found alive, and the backdoor of the home was ajar.