The mysterious deaths of famous Hollywood actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, are making big news as the authorities in Santa Fe, New Mexico, look into the case more closely.
The couple and one of their dogs were found dead in their home on February 26, which has led to a lot of questions and guessing about what happened.
As of March 2, police have shared some new details, but many things are still unclear.
Gene Hackman, who is 95 years old and won two Oscars, is known for his roles in famous movies like The French Connection and Unforgiven.
He was found in the mudroom of their home, while his wife Betsy, 64, a classical pianist, was discovered in a bathroom with a dead German shepherd.
Two maintenance workers found them after they saw the front door open and called 911, leading to much discussion online.
At first, the sheriff’s office said the deaths looked strange and needed a deep investigation, which caught public interest.
On Friday, Sheriff Adan Mendoza shared important information, saying that Hackman’s pacemaker last recorded activity on February 17, meaning he may have died nine days before they were found.
The time of Betsy’s death is still unknown, but both bodies showed signs that they had been dead for a while.
Sheriff Mendoza said in a news conference, “We’re still putting together the timeline,” explaining the couple’s private life made it hard to find out when they were last seen.
Investigators have ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning after tests showed negative results for both of them.
There were no signs of external injuries on their bodies, which has led the investigation to look into other possible causes.
A prescription bottle with pills was found near Betsy’s body and is now an important piece of evidence, but the police have not confirmed if the pills belonged to her or if they are connected to their deaths.
“This is very important evidence,” Mendoza said, adding that toxicology reports, which will take a few weeks, might help explain what happened.
The investigation team also took two cell phones, a 2025 planner, and some medications, including thyroid pills, blood pressure medication, and Tylenol, from their house.
Mendoza mentioned they are working on unlocking the phones, which might give clues about the couple’s last days. Meanwhile, two healthy dogs were found wandering around the property, and there were no signs of forced entry or foul play.
“I’m pretty confident there’s no foul play based on the lack of evidence, but we’re not ruling it out,” Mendoza told reporters, stressing that the investigation is still ongoing.
Hackman’s daughter, Leslie Anne Allen, shared her worry about the situation, telling Us Weekly, “I’m very anxious to find out what happened.”
As the investigation continues, the deaths of Hackman and Arakawa remain in the news, mixing celebrity stories with a real-life mystery.
With autopsy results still waiting to be revealed, many people are looking closely for answers in a story that has grabbed the attention of both the media and the public online.
