Gene Hackman, wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog were dead for some time, warrant shows

SANTA FE, New Mexico — An investigation is underway after actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, were mysteriously found dead alongside a dog in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home, authorities said.

The couple was found on Wednesday during a welfare check, according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.

There were no obvious signs of how they died. However, their deaths were “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation” due to all of the “circumstances surrounding” the scene, according to the search warrant affidavit.

Initial autopsy findings showed “no external trauma to either individual,” the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release Thursday afternoon. The manner and cause of death have not been determined.

Carbon monoxide and toxicology tests have been requested for both, with the official results pending, the sheriff’s office said.

A new 911 recording documents the moment a property maintenance worker found the bodies of Hackman and his wife: “A female and the male? Probably, I don’t know. I don’t know if…her. Just send somebody up here real quick.”

The Academy Award-winning actor was found on the floor in the mud room, according to the search warrant. It appeared he fell suddenly, and he and his wife “showed obvious signs of death,” the document said.

Arakawa was found lying on her side on the floor in a bathroom, with a space heater near her body, according to the search warrant.

Her body showed signs of decomposition, the document said. There was mummification to her hands and feet, the document said.

On the counter near Arakawa was an opened prescription bottle, with pills scattered, according to the search warrant.

A German shepherd was found dead about 10 to 15 feet from Arakawa, the document said. That dog was in a crate or a kennel, according to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza.

But two other dogs were found alive, and it appeared they had access to a doggy door, the sheriff said. One healthy dog was near Arakawa and the other was located outside, according to the search warrant.

MORE: Stars share tributes to actor Gene Hackman

The Santa Fe City Fire Department found no signs of a possible carbon monoxide leak or poisoning, the document said. If there was carbon monoxide at the scene, it could have vented out of the home through the open front door before responders arrived.

New Mexico Gas Company also responded, “As of now, there are no signs or evidence indicating there were any problems associated to the pipes in and around the residence,” the document said.

Two maintenance workers said they hadn’t heard from Hackman and Arakawa in about two weeks, the document said.

A maintenance worker who initially responded to the home found the front door open, according to the search warrant affidavit. But there were no signs of forced entry and no signs items were taken or rummaged through, the document said.

There was no indication of a crime and “there could be a multitude of reasons why the door was open,” the sheriff told reporters Thursday.

There was “no obvious sign or indication of foul play,” but authorities “haven’t ruled that out yet,” the sheriff said.

Investigators are “keeping everything on the table,” he added.

Mendoza said it “sounds like they had been deceased for a while,” but he would not speculate for how long.

Hackman’s daughters and granddaughter said in a statement, “He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”