Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead at home. A pill bottle is deemed ‘very important’ evidence.
The couple was found dead; Gene was 95 and Betsy was 65. They were married for over thirty years and found in separate rooms. One dog was also dead.
Sheriff Adam Mendoza spoke about the pills, saying it’s a “very important” piece. They also found other medications, but tests could take months.
The front door was open. Mendoza thinks no foul play occurred, but they aren’t ruling anything out.
Reports say three drugs were found. One was Diltiazem for blood pressure, another was a thyroid drug, and they also found Tylenol.
Mendoza said his last pacemaker event was February 17, 2025. It’s unclear who died first, and both bodies were mummified.
Fire Chief Brian Moya spoke about decomposition, saying they don’t know how long they were there. His team needed to confirm if they were dead.
Betsy showed clear signs of death, and her body had decomposed. Her hands and feet were mummified; Gene showed similar signs.
Authorities will talk to Hackman’s children to learn about their last days. Gene had three children from a prior marriage.
Police are talking to family members to learn about the couple’s last days. They are trying to understand what happened.