Movies

Gene Hackman likely dead over a week before found; pills are ‘important evidence’, sheriff says

BBG News

It’s believed that actor Gene Hackman had passed away approximately nine days prior, and it wasn’t until this week that his and his wife’s bodies were found in their Santa Fe, New Mexico residence.

On Wednesday, maintenance personnel discovered the bodies of an Oscar-winning individual along with his spouse, Betsy Arakawa, accompanied by one of their three pets. The authorities stated that although there were no apparent indications of criminal activity, the manner in which they passed away was questionable and merited a thorough investigation for further clarification.

According to Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza, during a press briefing on Friday, it’s assumed that February 17th was the final day Hackman’s pacemaker functioned, which suggests it was likely his final day alive.

Preliminary postmortem examinations did not detect carbon monoxide poisoning or any indications of traumatic injury in the couple, as stated.

Or simply:
The initial autopsy showed no signs of carbon monoxide poisoning or blunt force trauma on the couple’s bodies, according to him.

The doctor responsible for determining the cause of death will wait for complete toxicology and autopsy reports before making their final decision – a procedure that Mendoza mentioned might take several months to complete.

Investigators are examining the pills discovered at the scene, along with their mobile phones, to reconstruct the final days of their lives.

Mendoza stated that we’ll examine call logs, text messages, images, and other cellphone activities in order to construct a sequence of events.

According to a search warrant summary, investigators took out two mobile devices, prescriptions for blood pressure and thyroid medication, Tylenol, medical documents, and a 2025 calendar from the residence.

According to Mendoza, the space heater discovered near Arakawa’s body in the bathroom doesn’t play a crucial role in their ongoing investigation, as both individuals had tested negative for carbon monoxide intoxication.

“Right now, there’s no indication that [the space heater] has anything to do with it,” he said.

California

On Wednesday afternoon, the bodies of actor Gene Hackman, his spouse, and their pet dog were found in Santa Fe, New Mexico, during a routine wellness check, according to authorities.

On Wednesday afternoon around 2 PM, the maintenance team from their residential complex discovered Hackman, aged 95, and Arakawa, aged 65.

Or:

On a Wednesday afternoon, just before 2 PM, a pair of maintenance workers from their housing community stumbled upon Hackman (age 95) and Arakawa (age 65).

Both sentences convey the same information in an understandable way.

The workers then notified a community caretaker, who went to the home and then called 911.

The caretaker lacked complete details when making the call, yet he was aware that he was peering through a window at two figures who appeared to be lying on the floor within.

The individual speaking over the phone is clearly saying to the dispatcher that he seems to spot two immobile individuals within the house. Agitated, he keeps uttering “darn” and insists that the authorities swiftly arrive at the scene.

“No, they are not moving. Please send someone out here quick,” the caller says.

1) Court documents reveal that Hackman’s lifeless body was discovered close to the kitchen, accompanied by a walking cane and sunglasses, while Arakawa’s body was found in a bathroom near the house entrance with prescription pills strewn across a nearby countertop. Mendoza, however, is unable to disclose information about these prescriptions due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act regulations.

In my film-loving perspective, the arrangement of those two figures on screen seemed to suggest an unexpected collapse – at least, that’s what the statement in the affidavit hinted at.

Inside the house, a German Shepherd was discovered deceased, while two other canines were alive on the premises. These dogs had access to the home via a backdoor, and the reason behind the dog’s demise remains undetermined.

According to an affidavit, the Santa Fe City Fire Department discovered no indications of a carbon monoxide leak or poisoning.

Obituaries

Legendary actor Gene Hackman made his big break in the movie ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ and later reached great heights with ‘The French Connection.’ Unfortunately, he passed away at the age of 95.

Mendoza mentioned on ‘Today’ that it takes time to analyze all the evidence and the autopsy is crucial. He asked for understanding from everyone involved as we work towards finding answers about these deaths.

During a press briefing, Mendoza failed to give an estimated timeframe for the outcomes, yet highlighted that the medical examiner had requested some tests be conducted swiftly.

In the near future, investigators aim to construct a sequence of events detailing when the couple were last alive, as well as identify who they had contact with just prior. As private individuals, Hackman and Arakawa tended to keep their personal lives secluded, according to Mendoza’s statement given on Friday. Unfortunately, there are no surveillance cameras either inside or outside their residence that the investigators can utilize for their inquiry.

The maintenance team, who found them, mentioned that it had been around two weeks since they last interacted with the couple via texts or phone calls, primarily communicating with Arakawa.

During a press briefing on a Friday afternoon, Jennifer LaBar-Tapia, the Film Commissioner of Santa Fe, expressed gratitude towards Hackman and Arakawa for their “unselfishness, benevolence, and affection” shown towards the city, as well as their significant impact on the film industry.

Not only was Gene a renowned actor whose talent significantly influenced the world of storytelling for generations, but he and Betsy were also long-standing members of our community, playing integral roles within the heart of Santa Fe. Gene’s cinematic legacy is unprecedented, encompassing decades of captivating performances, some even filmed here in beautiful Santa Fe.

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2025-03-02 00:01

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