Authorities in Santa Fe are investigating the deaths of actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa, 65, found in their home on February 26, 2025. Their passing is considered suspicious.Maintenance workers discovered their bodies during a welfare check.
Hackman was near the entryway, Arakawa in a bathroom with an open pill bottle nearby. A minor gas leak was detected, but carbon monoxide poisoning was ruled out. Autopsies found no external trauma, and toxicology results are pending,
Investigators suspect Hackman, who had heart disease, may have suffered cardiac arrest upon finding his wife, or that Arakawa had a fatal accident while aiding him.Hackman, a two-time Oscar winner, retired in 2004. Tributes continue to pour in for the beloved couple.
Authorities remain committed to uncovering the truth.
