Sheriff Not Ruling Out Foul Play in Deaths of Gene Hackman and Wife, but 'Pretty Confident' It's Not a Factor

Mar. 15, 2025

Gene Hackman (R) and wife Betsy Arakawa in Los Angeles in 1986.Photo:Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

It’s unclear at the moment whether foul play was a factor in the deaths of actorGene Hackmanand his wifeBetsy Arakawa— but authorities haven’t ruled it out.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza spoke toSavannah GuthrieonTodayFriday, Feb, 28, where he said he was “pretty confident there’s no foul play just based on the lack of evidence” for it.

“But we, of course, are not ruling that out. I think the autopsy results, the official results, are going to help steer us in the right direction,” said Mendoza.

The autopsy is “key,” he said, noting it would “take some time” and asking the public for patience.

Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65,were each found deadin separate rooms of their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Wednesday, Feb. 26. A German Shepherd they owned was also found deceased, whiletwo other dogs were discovered aliveand healthy on the property.

Both bodies displayed similar"obvious signs of death," including “mummification,“suggesting they may have been dead for some time.

The sheriff said Thursday, Feb. 27, there were “no apparent signs of foul play” but nonetheless called the circumstances of the deaths “unusual.”

Gene Hackman (R) and wife Betsy Arakawa in New York City circa 2000.Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty

Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty

Santa Fe Fire Department Chief Brian Moya, who was first to arrive on the scene, also spoke to Guthrie on theTodayshow, where she asked him if it was still his belief thatHackman and his wife of more than 30 years"may have just fallen.”

“When we arrived on scene, my paramedics did do an evaluation, and it was obvious [that they were dead]; we didn’t do any life-saving measures, so at the time we didn’t need to get any closer due to the fact that it was an obvious sudden death,” he said.

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As for whether agas leakorcarbon-monoxide poisoninghad been ruled out completely, “At the time of the incident, we did not determine anything that was in the house with our meters that was concerning to our guys doing the searches,” said Moya onToday.

Mendoza admitted it’s “very difficult to put a timeline together” for when the couple died, suggesting they may have been dead “up to a couple of weeks.”

Gene Hackman in Los Angeles circa 1996.Ron Davis/Getty

Ron Davis/Getty

Hackman and Arakawa’s bodies were taken to the Office of the Medical Investigator in Santa Fe, where an autopsy was performed. Investigators report there were no signs of “external trauma” after the initial probe, but no cause of death has been determined.

Full carbon monoxide and toxicology tests have been ordered for the late couple, though results could take weeks to arrive.

“Based on my experience, a toxicology report could take some time — it could take up to three months or even possibly longer. It just depends how busy the laboratory is,” Mendoza said onToday.

Added the sheriff, “But we’re hoping it comes sooner [rather] than later so we can help answer some of these questions, and hopefully it’ll help us in our investigation to help determine the matter and cause of death.”

source: people.com