The sheriff stated that while there were no clear signs of foul play, authorities are keeping all possibilities open as the investigation continues
Legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in separate rooms of their New Mexico home after being deceased for “quite a while,” authorities said Thursday. Their deaths are being investigated as “suspicious.”
Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, were discovered Wednesday at their Santa Fe residence, along with their dog. An ongoing investigation is underway.
According to a search warrant, the circumstances of their deaths are “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation.”
Preliminary findings from the medical examiner showed no signs of external trauma, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office reported. The exact cause of death remains undetermined, and authorities have requested carbon monoxide and toxicology tests for both individuals.
Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza told NBC’s TODAY on Friday that pills were found near Arakawa’s body, and investigators have passed that information to the medical examiner to aid in determining the cause of death.
“That’s obviously very important evidence at the scene,” Mendoza said. “We’re specifically looking at that and other medications in the residence. That is something of concern.”
Toxicology reports can take up to three months or longer, he noted, though authorities hope to receive results sooner.
When asked if he remained confident that no foul play was involved, Mendoza said, “I think I’m pretty confident there is no foul play based on the lack of evidence, but we are not ruling it out.” Investigators are now working to establish a timeline of the couple’s last known interactions.
Hackman’s family released a brief statement on Thursday, saying, “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,” they added.
Deputies were called to a residence on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park around 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, according to a statement from Sheriff’s spokesperson Denise Womack Avila.
Two maintenance workers reported finding the front door of the home ajar, with the couple found dead inside, the search warrant reveals. It also notes that deputies “did not observe any signs of forced entry into the home.”
A man who identified himself as the subdivision’s caretaker called 911 to report finding the bodies, according to the call audio. He told the dispatcher he would meet first responders at the gate, as he didn’t have an address for the house.
“I’m not inside the house. It’s closed. It’s locked,” he told the dispatcher. “I can’t go in, but I see them… She’s laying down from the window.”
He was unable to confirm whether the couple was breathing or able to speak, the audio shows.
“Dude, they’re not moving,” the caller added. “Just send somebody out here really quick.”
Arakawa’s body was found on the bathroom floor, with a space heater near her head and a bottle of prescription pills on the counter, according to the search warrant.
The responding deputy speculated that the heater “could have fallen in the event the female abruptly fell to the ground,” the warrant states. The pills from the bottle were found “scattered on the counter-top,” it adds. A German shepherd was discovered about 10 feet away in a closet in the bathroom.
Hackman was found dead in a mudroom near the kitchen, according to the warrant, with the deputy suspecting he may have fallen suddenly.
Both bodies showed “obvious signs of death,” the warrant states, with Arakawa’s also displaying signs of “body decomposition.”
Two other dogs were found alive on the property—one was in the bathroom with Arakawa, and the other was outside the home.
Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated that while there were no obvious signs of foul play, investigators are not ruling anything out.
“It’s not normal to find two people deceased in the residence,” he said Thursday. “That’s concerning. And there was also a dog that was in a kennel that was found deceased.”
The fire department conducted tests but “did not locate signs of a carbon monoxide leak or poisoning,” according to the warrant.
New Mexico Gas Co., which provides natural gas service to the home, also tested the gas line in and around the residence.
“As of now, there are no signs or evidence indicating any problems with the pipes,” the warrant states.
The gas company confirmed it is assisting the sheriff’s office with the investigation.
Hackman’s and Arakawa’s bodies weren’t formally identified until 12:30 a.m. Thursday (2:30 a.m. ET).
Hackman, a two-time Oscar winner, was celebrated for his roles in iconic films such as the 1974 thriller The Conversation, 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde, and the 1971 crime drama The French Connection, which earned him his first Academy Award.
He won his second Oscar in 1993 for Unforgiven.
Throughout his career, Hackman also received four Golden Globes, two British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs), and a Screen Actors Guild Award. His final film appearance was in 2004’s Welcome to Mooseport, after which he retired from on-screen acting.
