Oscar-Winner Gene Hackman and Wife Found Dead in New Mexico Mansion in Mysterious Circumstances
Oscar and Academy Award-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their Santa Fe mansion, with signs of partial mummification and decomposition, according to an arrest warrant obtained by the Daily Mail.
Pills were reportedly scattered in their bathroom and a space heater was discovered near Arakawa’s body.
Two maintenance workers, Roland Lowe Begay and Jesse Kesler, discovered the couple’s remains inside their $3.3 million home on Wednesday at 1:46 p.m. Mountain Time. Authorities did not publicly confirm the identities of Hackman, 95 and Arakawa, 64, for nearly 12 hours, as investigators worked to determine the circumstances of their deaths.
Begay and Kesler informed law enforcement that they had not seen the couple for two weeks. The Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department stated there were no immediate signs of foul play, but an investigation is ongoing, the outlet reports.
Arakawa was found lying on the bathroom floor, with an open prescription bottle of pills on a nearby countertop. Investigators have not disclosed what type of medication was present or to whom it was prescribed.
A space heater was located next to her head, raising the possibility that it may have fallen.
Hackman was discovered in a mudroom adjacent to the kitchen, fully clothed, with his sunglasses beside him. Authorities suspect he may have suffered a sudden fall.
One of the couple’s three dogs, a German Shepherd, was found dead about 10 to 15 feet from Arakawa in a closet off the bathroom. Earlier reports had suggested the animal was found in a kennel.
The couple’s two other dogs survived, with one found close to Arakawa’s body and the other roaming the property.
The home’s front door was open and there was no indication of forced entry. Firefighters were called to inspect the scene but no gas leaks were detected.
On Thursday, Hackman’s daughter, Elizabeth, speculated that a carbon monoxide leak might have been responsible for their deaths. However, authorities have not confirmed this theory.
The exact cause of death for Hackman and Arakawa remains unknown, pending further investigation and toxicology reports.
Hackman, a two-time Oscar winner with a net worth estimated at $80 million, had been living a reclusive life in Santa Fe since retiring from Hollywood in 2004. Born in 1930, Hackman’s acting career spanned over four decades, during which he earned five Academy Award nominations and won Best Actor for “The French Connection” in 1972 and Best Supporting Actor for “Unforgiven” in 1992, the Daily Mail notes.
He was regarded as one of the finest actors of his generation, known for portraying complex characters in dramas, comedies and action films.
Despite stepping away from the spotlight, Hackman occasionally made public appearances. He was often seen bicycling around Santa Fe and was known to enjoy fishing trips, as shared by friends on social media.
Arakawa, a classically trained pianist from Hawaii, met Hackman in the mid-1980s while working part-time at a California gym. The two moved in together before relocating to Santa Fe by the end of the decade.
Hackman’s death comes just four days before this year’s Academy Awards ceremony, marking the loss of a legendary figure in the film industry.
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