Some new information sheds light on the events leading up to the untimely deaths of Gene Hackman, his wife, and their dog, who were discovered at their estate in New Mexico. Officials recently disclosed that the pair was discovered in the same structure on the expansive Santa Fe property, indicating that they passed away within a short “timeframe.”
The devastating news that renowned actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, had been discovered dead in their Santa Fe home stunned Hollywood on February 26. Two other dogs in the house survived, but Zinna, their 12-year-old Australian Kelpie, was also discovered dead.
Interesting specifics
Intriguing information regarding the bodies’ discovery were disclosed in the search warrant application, which sparked more inquiries concerning the couple’s and their dog’s deaths.
Officers “immediately observed a bathroom to the left of the front door” as soon as they arrived at the house on Old Sunset Trail. The restroom door was thrown open.
An open prescription bottle with strewn-about pills was located on the counter, along with “a black in color space heater near the female’s head” and an arawak on the bathroom floor.
“Attached to Betsy” Zinna, who was mistakenly described as a German Shepherd in the affidavit, was also discovered dead, confined in a kennel “about 10 to 15 feet from the deceased female in a bathroom closet.”
The proprietor of Santa Fe Tails pet care, Joey Padilla, claimed in an Associated Press statement that Zinna, the deceased dog, “was always attached to Betsy at the hip and it was a beautiful relationship…” Under Betsy’s care, Zinna transformed from a reclaimed shelter dog to this amazing friend.
Knowing the couple and the dogs who were regularly boarded at his facility, Padilla noted that the couple’s two German Shepherds, Bear, 4, and Nikita, 7, both survived and are doing well.
Details about the pacemaker
Further examination of the house revealed that Hackman, the Mississippi Burning star, was on the floor of what is “thought to be a mudroom,” with sunglasses and a cane nearby.
Hackman and his 1991 wife, Arakawa, seem to have fallen out of grace. Besides, their bodies were decaying.
Update and info on the 3 Dogs that belonged to Gene Hackman and his Wife Betsy Arakawa. Photo of Betsy a and a dog is of the dog, Zinna that also passed away. https://t.co/bSQmSysjD3
— Linda Quincy Adams (@LindaQuinc89294) March 5, 2025
According to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza, carbon monoxide poisoning was ruled out and there were no overt indications of foul play, which added even more mystery to the case and suggested the pair “had been deceased for quite a while.”
He later disclosed that Hackman may have passed away more than a week before his body was found because his pacemaker recorded his final heartbeat on February 17.
This information raises questions about what happened in the days after his passing and how Arakawa might have spent her last hours.
“A comparable timeframe”
Forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden claims that Arakawa was “agitated” in her last minutes.
According to Baden, Hackman most likely had a deadly heart attack, which is why his wife hurried to the restroom to retrieve his blood pressure medication. She then slipped, spilled the drugs, and was hit in the head by the space heater.
Regarding what he suspects transpired, Baden stated, “She might have hit her head on the way down and had some internal injury to the brain that doesn’t show up on the outside or bleeding in the inside of the brain.”
This notion is further supported by the proximity of the bodies on the enormous estate.
Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, led quiet, art-filled lives in Santa Fe for years before their bodies were discovered in different rooms in their home there this week. https://t.co/pq4XF4f0ob
— New York Times Arts (@nytimesarts) February 28, 2025
Although the precise moment of death is unknown, Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya told Fox News Digital that it is likely that Hackman and Arakawa passed away within a short period of time.
Moya hinted that Arakawa’s death might have been connected to her husband’s demise by saying, “Both bodies are in a similar manner, that it could be a similar timeframe.”
Hackman disclosed that the property “sprawled over 9,000 square feet and consisted of three structures,” but Moya did not answer the phone at his house.
Family remains upbeat
Hackman’s family acknowledges they are not giving in to speculation as authorities work to solve the enigma behind the unexplained deaths.
We are awaiting the results of toxicology. Tim Hackman, the actor’s nephew, told Us Weekly, “That will tell us everything.” Theorizing is challenging. I don’t want to speculate because there are many theories out there. It’s simple to conjecture negative theories.
“The family wants to keep things positive for the time being, and we will deal with it once we know the truth.”
One thing is certain while everyone waits for more details: Gene Hackman was a Hollywood icon, and his death signifies the end of an era. The press conference on March 7 will be essential to learning the full story of what actually transpired with Hackman and Arakawa in their last days, as fresh information is being revealed every day.