The news of Gene Hackman’s passing has broken the hearts of many fans. The Hollywood legend was found dead in his Santa Fe home alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their pet dog. The initial police report suspected no foul play, but the circumstances of the couple’s passing have people scratching their heads for clues. How did Gene Hackman die? This question is on everyone’s mind, and maybe, just maybe, we finally have an idea of what might have happened.
Gene Hackman, 95, was found dead at his home on Thursday, February 27, in their home in the Santa Fe Summit community northeast of the city. According to BBC, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed that he passed away on Wednesday at around 1:45 pm, just after midnight.
Actor Gene Hackman, 95, was found dead along with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 63, at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Their dog was also found along with them. Local police said there were no signs of foul play.#DailyTribune #genehackman pic.twitter.com/ek2QXpwmS8
— Daily Tribune (@tribunephl) February 27, 2025
His lifeless body was discovered in a separate room off the kitchen. While he was fully clothed, his glasses were thrown from his body, and police believe it holds some clue to how the legendary Hollywood star might have met his end. According to a report by Irish Star, Hackman may have fallen to his death, or that’s what his glasses indicate as of now.
Meanwhile, new Police findings have also provided some insights into how his wife, Betsy Arakawa, might have passed away. As per the latest reports, the late classical pianist was found lying on her right side in a ground-floor bathroom. There was also a black space heater found near her head, which officials think might have fallen off the counter if Betsy had abruptly fallen.
In addition, an orange prescription bottle was opened at the scene. It was lying on the counter with pills scattered on the floor. Authorities believe Arakawa may have been dead for some time before her body, alongside Hackman and their dog, was found on Wednesday. According to the report, Betsy was showing signs of “mummification” when the police found her body. A Santa Fe detective who examined the circumstances reported that there was “bloating in her face and mummification in her hands and feet.”
According to sources who investigated the scene both Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found partially-mummified. Investigators believe the two had been dead for quite sometime.
Maintenance workers discovered the bodies and say they hadn’t seen either Hackman or… https://t.co/UeooAcOO3l pic.twitter.com/WvPQmV3IUa
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) February 27, 2025
Previously, it was unclear if the deputies found the couple while doing a routine welfare check or receiving a 911 call. The latest report suggests that a maintenance worker (name redacted) dialed 911 and told the dispatcher that he “believes he just stumbled across one or two dead bodies.”
While the dispatcher was contacting the paramedics, the caller was heard saying “Damn” repeatedly while trying to hold back tears. The maintenance worker was then asked a bunch of questions by the dispatcher, many of which he couldn’t answer. The caller added that he was outside looking through a window and couldn’t see anyone moving inside. However, he didn’t have a way in to confirm further.
The police search warrant revealed that “The death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation because the reporting party found the front door of the residence unsecured and opened.”
The officer also reported that the deputies found a deceased female dog “laying 10-15 feet from the deceased female in a closet of the bathroom,” while another healthy dog was running loose on the property. “The heater being moved, the pill bottle being opened and pills scattered next to the female, the male decedent being located in a separate room of the residence, and no obvious signs of a gas leak,” the search warrant described.
