Legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on Wednesday afternoon. Their family dog was also discovered deceased at the scene. The tragic discovery has left authorities and fans shocked, as details surrounding their deaths continue to emerge.
Initial reports from TMZ suggested that carbon monoxide poisoning may have been responsible. However, a later report from The Daily Mail revealed a far more disturbing scenario—Hackman and Arakawa were found in an advanced state of decomposition, described as “partially mummified.”
Authorities faced difficulties in immediately identifying the bodies due to their condition. According to investigators, prescription pills were discovered scattered on a bathroom countertop near Arakawa’s body, raising further questions about the circumstances of their deaths.
The couple had not been seen for approximately two weeks before their bodies were found. Their absence raised concerns among maintenance workers, who ultimately made the grim discovery.
According to The Daily Mail, two groundskeepers, Roland Lowe Begay and Jesse Kesler, found the bodies at the couple’s $3.3 million estate at 1:46 p.m. Mountain Time on Wednesday.
Begay and Kesler, who regularly maintained the property, stated that they had not seen or heard from Hackman and Arakawa for several weeks, leading them to check inside the home.
Upon entering, they found Arakawa’s body on the bathroom floor, lying on her right side. Pills were scattered nearby, though authorities have not disclosed what type of medication was present or whether they were prescribed to either Hackman or his wife.
Hackman was found elsewhere in the home, displaying the same signs of decomposition as Arakawa. Their dog, which also perished, was discovered near them.
The identities of Hackman and Arakawa were not officially released for nearly 12 hours after their discovery, likely due to the advanced decomposition of their remains. Investigators are now working to determine the exact cause of death, though no immediate evidence of foul play has been reported.
The couple had lived a relatively private life in their Santa Fe home, where they had resided for years after Hackman retired from Hollywood. The two had been married since 1991, and Arakawa, a former classical pianist, had been by Hackman’s side throughout much of his later years.
Authorities have yet to confirm whether toxicology tests will be conducted to determine if drugs or other substances played a role in their deaths.
The presence of the prescription medication in the bathroom has sparked speculation, but officials have cautioned against drawing conclusions until autopsy results are available.
Gene Hackman, 94, was a two-time Academy Award-winning actor known for his roles in The French Connection, Unforgiven, and The Royal Tenenbaums.
His career spanned more than five decades, with a reputation for delivering powerful performances in some of Hollywood’s most iconic films.
