A search warrant describes the circumstances surrounding the death of Gene Hackman, his wife and one of their dogs as “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation.”
SANTA FE, N.M. — Gene Hackman, the iconic Oscar award-winning actor known for his iconic roles in “The French Connection” and “Unforgiven” and as Lex Luthor in the original “Superman” movies, has died. He was 95.
Two deputies found Hackman, his wife; 63-year-old Betsy Arakawa, and their dog dead Wednesday afternoon at their Santa Fe home, according to Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Denise Avila. No one else was in the home.
The deputies were doing a welfare check at the home after someone called, concerned about the couple. A search warrant detailed circumstances they described as “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation.”
Deputies found a door open with no signs of forced entry. Inside the home, deputies said they found Arakawa dead, with signs of decay, near a bathroom countertop. The warrant showed they found an open pill bottle and pills scattered across the countertop and a space heater near her head, raising the suspicion that the heater could’ve fallen if she had abruptly fallen to the ground. About “10-15 feet” away from her, they also found a dog dead in a closet.
The warrant stated deputies found a man, later identified as Hackman, dead with similar signs as Arakawa. A deputy said it appeared he “suddenly fell.” They found a pair of sunglasses found near his body.
Deputies talked to two maintenance workers who said they rarely saw Hackman and Arakawa but talked over text and phone with her. However, they hadn’t heard from her in “approximately two weeks.”
Deputies said “nothing appeared to be ‘out of place’” while looking through the home. They also found two dogs, one initially near Arakawa and the other running around on the property, who were both healthy.
The Santa Fe Fire Department didn’t find any signs of a carbon monoxide leak or poisoning, according to the warrant. New Mexico Gas Company also responded and found “no signs or evidence indicating there were any problems associated to the pipes in and around the residence.” Deputies added they found “no immediate signs or indication of blunt force trauma.”
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said deputies didn’t suspect foul play as there were no obvious signs of it but they aren’t ruling it out.
The investigation is still ongoing. New Mexico Gas Company issued a statement, detailing their involvement in the investigation:
“We provide natural gas service at the address. We are assisting the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department, which is leading an investigation. Any additional information or comment should come from that office.”
The manner and cause of death is unknown. An autopsy is pending.
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