A warrant affidavit revealed that renowned actor Gene Hackman was discovered deceased in a mud room within his New Mexico residence, while his wife, Betsy Arakawa, was found lifeless on a bathroom floor on a somber Wednesday. Nearby her body, on the bathroom counter, lay an open prescription bottle, its contents scattered as pills lay strewn about.
Just between 10 and 15 feet from Ms. Arakawa in a bathroom closet, a deceased German shepherd was uncovered, as detailed in the affidavit. Notably absent were any overt signs of a gas leak in the house, and the Fire Department confirmed no traces of carbon monoxide leakage. Maintenance workers, who hadn't spoken with the couple in two weeks, were the ones to discover them.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement on Thursday afternoon, stating that "there were no evident indicators of foul play." Autopsies were conducted on both Mr. Hackman and Ms. Arakawa that same day, with initial inspections revealing no external trauma. Although carbon monoxide and toxicology tests were ordered, results were still pending, leaving the causes of their deaths undetermined. "This remains an ongoing investigation," emphasized the sheriff’s office.
Detective Roy Arndt's affidavit further noted that Ms. Arakawa was found lying on her side on the bathroom floor, with a space heater positioned near her head. The deputy who found her speculated that the heater might have fallen alongside her. Ms. Arakawa's body exhibited signs of decomposition, along with "mummification in both hands and feet," according to the affidavit. The deceased dog was found nearby, while two other dogs were discovered alive on the property. Mr. Hackman's body, subsequently found in the mud room, displayed similar and consistent signs of death as his wife's.
Authorities were summoned to the scene after a maintenance worker, who visited to perform some work on Wednesday afternoon, grew concerned when no one responded to the door. He requested a welfare check from local security officers. Upon arrival, they observed unresponsive bodies through the window and promptly dialed 911.
Two deputies arrived and first discovered Ms. Arakawa in the bathroom, then Mr. Hackman lying in the mud room, his body in a similar state as his wife's. He was found dressed in gray sweatpants, a blue long-sleeve T-shirt, brown slippers, and clutching a cane, with a pair of sunglasses lying to his left. One deputy remarked that it seemed as if he had "suddenly fallen," according to the affidavit.
In a phone interview, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated that investigators were still striving to ascertain the cause of their deaths, pointing out the absence of obvious trauma on their bodies and the lack of a note. The sheriff noted that the search of the home was ongoing on Thursday. "At this juncture, there isn't anything obvious like that," he said. "The autopsy will reveal more."
Throughout his 40-year career, Mr. Hackman was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning two. He starred in numerous films watched by millions, including "Bonnie and Clyde," "The French Connection," "The Poseidon Adventure," "Mississippi Burning," "Unforgiven," "Superman," "Hoosiers," and "The Royal Tenenbaums."
In an affidavit submitted on Wednesday to procure a search warrant, Detective Arndt penned his belief that "the circumstances attending the demise of the two deceased persons were sufficiently questionable to necessitate an exhaustive search and thorough investigation." A magistrate judge subsequently issued the warrant, empowering authorities to gather various items from the residence, encompassing documents, any discovered narcotics, flammable materials, and more.
Nestled in a secluded neighborhood perched high above downtown Santa Fe, with winding roads and breathtaking mountain vistas, lay the couple's home where they were discovered. Mr. Hackman, who had relocated to Santa Fe County in the 1980s after shooting some films there, quietly retired from Hollywood more than two decades prior. He subsequently collaborated with his friend Daniel Lenihan on several historical adventure novels. Occasionally, he would be spotted downtown Santa Fe.
An avid painter, Mr. Hackman drew inspiration from the surrounding mountains. He once served on the board of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, one of Santa Fe's flagship cultural attractions, where he spoke at its grand opening in 1997 and later narrated a brief documentary about the renowned artist. Many of his paintings, including landscapes and portraits, adorn the walls of Jinja, an Asian fusion restaurant in Santa Fe where the couple had invested. Doug Lanham, the restaurant's owner and a friend of Mr. Hackman, recounted his playful side, remembering how he once convinced a child at a local country club event to hand him a squirt gun, which he promptly filled with red wine.
"He cherished Santa Fe because people embraced him as a cherished member of the community," Mr. Lanham reminisced. In recent years, as he aged, Mr. Hackman had become more reclusive but remained deeply devoted to his wife and dogs, Mr. Lanham added.
Barbara Lenihan, Mrs. Lenihan’s wife and a friend of the couple for over three decades, revealed that she last spoke with Ms. Arakawa, who co-owns a local home décor business, in January. She noted that Mr. Hackman appeared to be weakening physically but continued to paint and draw. "They maintained a somewhat reclusive demeanor, yet everyone adored their company," she said.
