Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their Santa Fe residence in what authorities are calling a “suspicious” incident.
According to the latest reports, Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 63, had apparently been dead ‘for some time’ before their bodies were discovered. According to a search warrant, investigators deemed the circumstances of their deaths ‘suspicious enough’ to warrant a ‘thorough search and investigation’.
Reports state that the bodies of the couple, along with that of a pet dog, were discovered on Wednesday by a maintenance worker who subsequently alerted law enforcement. TMZ reported that A maintenance worker arrived at the couple’s home for routine work and noticed the front door was open. Upon entering, he discovered the bodies and immediately contacted emergency services.
In a distressing 911 call obtained by TMZ, the worker, audibly shaken, pleaded with dispatchers to send first responders urgently. “I found two or one deceased person[s] inside a house… Just send somebody really quick,” he stammered.
Authorities arrived to find the home unsecured. Arakawa’s body was located in the bathroom allegedly with ‘pills scattered nearby’. Hackman was found fully clothed in another room, with sunglasses beside him, suggesting he may have collapsed suddenly. A dead German Shepherd was also discovered in a separate room, while the couple’s other two dogs were found alive.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated during a press conference that while initial assessments showed no immediate indicators of carbon monoxide poisoning, further tests were pending. “This is an investigation, so we’re keeping everything on the table,” he said, adding that no evidence of a struggle was found at the scene.
Hackman’s daughter, Elizabeth Jean, suggested carbon monoxide poisoning as a potential cause. However, the fire department’s initial inspection did not detect high levels of the gas. Autopsy findings revealed no external trauma to either individual and toxicology reports are pending to determine a definitive cause of death.
Hackman, a two-time Academy Award winner, was credited for intense performances of everyman characters inspired by his troubled upbringing, notching up dozens of movie credits extending into his 70s.
He is perhaps best known as vulgar New York cop Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in the 1971 crime thriller “The French Connection” — for which he won an Oscar for best actor.
He won another golden statuette two decades later for best supporting actor for his portrayal of the brutal small-town sheriff “Little Bill” Daggett in the 1992 western “Unforgiven.”