Actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their Santa Fe home. Deaths are under investigation.
Maintenance workers found them. Roland Lowe Begay and Jesse Kesler made the discovery. They hadn’t seen the couple in weeks. The workers contacted the police right away.
The couple was discovered partially mummified. Pills were scattered in the bathroom. These details are quite disturbing to hear; it is a somber situation.
Arakawa, 64, was found decomposed. Her face was bloated, and her hands and feet were mummified. Mummification preserves skin and tissues. Hackman, 95, showed similar signs, and he was found elsewhere in the house.
The front door was open and unlocked. There were no signs of forced entry. Police now call their deaths “suspicious,” and they need to investigate further.
A space heater was near Arakawa’s head. It might have fallen, police think. Hackman was in the mud room, which is off the couple’s kitchen.
He wore sweatpants, a t-shirt, and slippers. His cane and sunglasses were near him, which suggests a sudden fall. Arakawa wore sweatpants and a sweatshirt.
Their daughter suggested carbon monoxide poisoning. Firefighters found no gas leak. A German Shepherd died in the bathroom closet. Two other dogs were alive and healthy.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived on February 26th. They went to the house on Old Sunset Trail. They found Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa, and a dog dead.
The sheriff said the investigation is preliminary. They waited for a search warrant approval. He stated there’s no immediate danger for neighbors now.
Foul play isn’t suspected currently, but the exact cause remains undetermined. The Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating. Autopsy and toxicology reports are pending.
Hackman won two BAFTAs and was awarded four Golden Globes. He received many other awards. He joined the army after lying about his age.
He met Dustin Hoffman at a theater. His role in “Any Wednesday” made him famous. He then starred in his first movie, “Lilith”.
He gained fame in “Bonnie and Clyde,” which earned him his first Oscar nomination. Another nomination came for “I Never Sang for My Father.”
Hackman starred as Lex Luthor in “Superman” and was also in the sequels. He acted in other movies too. Gene and Betsy married in 1991. They mostly stayed out of public view.
He made rare public appearances and had been seen at a local restaurant. His last movie was “Welcome To Mooseport” in 2004. He later confirmed his retirement from acting.