Santa Fe, NM — The tranquil home of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, became the focus of a police investigation this week following the couple’s unexpected death. The pair, who had lived quietly away from the Hollywood limelight for years, were discovered deceased in different areas of their home, sparking suspicions from law enforcement despite no immediate signs of foul play.
Authorities, compelled by the mysterious circumstances surrounding the deaths, executed a thorough search of the residence. They confiscated several items, including three types of medications — Tylenol, a thyroid medication, and Diltiazem, a drug typically prescribed for hypertension or chest pain. Electronics such as two green cell phones, a 2025 monthly planner, and records from MyQuest, a medical diagnostics service, were also taken into custody.
Gene Hackman, renowned for his roles in classics such as “The French Connection,” was 95, while Arakawa, a classical pianist with whom he shared decades of marriage since 1991, was 64. Located by maintenance workers on Wednesday, Hackman was found near the kitchen area, and Arakawa was located on the bathroom floor with prescription pills visibly scattered across the countertop.
The absence of external injuries added depth to the investigatory challenges faced by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Adan Mendoza emphasized the criticalness of the spilled medication during a press briefing, noting they are piecing together a timeline and considering all available evidence, including the medications present.
Adding to the complexity, one of the couple’s German Shepherds was also found deceased close to Arakawa, within what appeared to be a crate or kennel. The state of decomposition suggested that the couple might have been deceased for several days or even weeks before discovery.
Sheriff Mendoza disclosed that determining whether Hackman and Arakawa died simultaneously or at different times was proving difficult. A definitive cause of death awaits the results of forthcoming autopsy and toxicology assessments. Meanwhile, detectives are exploring various avenues including phone records, uncollected mail, and other data to pinpoint the exact time of the couple’s death.
Echoing a sentiment of health and wellness, Leslie Hackman, Gene’s daughter, shared that her father was engaged in regular physical activities like Pilates and yoga, maintaining a strong physical condition up to the time of his passing. Despite his advanced age, Leslie conveyed her hope that her father had passed away peacefully without suffering.
Initially, the family speculated carbon monoxide poisoning might have been the culprit, but further investigations by the fire department and gas company found no evidence of a gas leak, leaving the actual cause still veiled in uncertainty.
Before his second marriage to Arakawa, Hackman had three children with his first wife, Faye Maltese, whom he was married to from 1956 to 1986. The absence of a clear cause and the varying evidence collected from the residence underscore the ongoing mystery and the meticulous investigation unfolding in Santa Fe.