Investigators say the deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife of more than 30 years, Betsy Arakawa, are “suspicious,” but there are no clear indications that foul play was involved.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office told Yahoo Entertainment that the couple’s bodies, along with their dog’s, were found in their Hyde Park, New Mexico, home on Wednesday at around 1:45 p.m. A search warrant affidavit from a detective working the case described the “suspicious” findings at the scene, despite the public information officer’s early Thursday morning statement that “foul play is not currently suspected as a factor.” While there are no overt indications of foul play, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated at a press conference later Thursday that they are not ruling it out, according to KOB4 Eyewitness News Albuquerque.
The deaths of Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 63, were deemed “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation,” according to the warrant, which was obtained by media outlets such as ABC News.
The warrant states that the couple’s front door was “unsecured and opened.” Arakawa’s body was discovered in a bathroom, and two healthy dogs were discovered on the property—one “running loose” outside and the other inside. Arakawa, a classical pianist, was about 10 to 15 feet away from the dead dog, which was in a bathroom closet.
Near Arakawa, who was discovered lying on her side, there were “pills scattered” on a countertop and an open prescription bottle. Additionally, there was a space heater close to her head, which the deputy thought might have fallen when she did.
According to the warrant, the body of Hackman, who starred in Superman, Unforgiven, and The French Connection, was found in the mud room, a separate room of the house. Authorities thought he had fallen abruptly. He had a pair of sunglasses with him.
The family suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, according to Hackman’s daughter, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, who spoke to TMZ. Although the front door was open and could have released potential fumes, the warrant stated that there were “no obvious signs of a gas leak.”
According to the warrant, neither the New Mexico Gas Company nor the Santa Fe Fire Department discovered any indications of a potential carbon monoxide leak.
The gas company stated, “At this time, there are no indications or proof that there were any issues related to the pipes in and around the residence.”
According to the warrant, a maintenance worker discovered the door open when they arrived at the house and called the police. Their possessions were not searched, and there was no indication of forced entry. Authorities contacted two maintenance workers, but they hadn’t heard from Hackman and Arakawa in roughly two weeks.
According to the warrant, the bodies of Hackman and Arakawa, who were married in 1991, “showed obvious signs of death.” Her body showed signs of decomposition, including mummification to her hands and feet.
Mendoza told the New York Times that there were no signs of trauma to the bodies. There was no note found.
The Office of the Medical Investigator will conduct autopsies to determine the causes of death. The public information officer told Yahoo that a press release is expected later on Thursday with additional information.
