Hollywood Icon Gene Hackman and Wife Found Dead—Authorities Call It ‘Suspicious’
Legendary actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 63, were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on Wednesday, sparking a police investigation.
Authorities initially do not suspect foul play, but a search warrant affidavit describes the circumstances as “suspicious” and calls for a thorough investigation.
Strange Scene at the Hackman Residence
The couple’s bodies were discovered by two maintenance workers. Arakawa was found in the bathroom, near an open prescription bottle and scattered pills. Hackman was in the mudroom with his sunglasses beside him. A dead dog was found in a bathroom closet, while two other dogs were alive—one near Arakawa and another outside.
The house’s front door was open, but there was no sign of forced entry.
Firefighters and gas company workers tested for carbon monoxide poisoning but found “no obvious signs of a gas leak.”
What Investigators Are Looking For
Detectives will search for:
- Phones and video evidence
- DNA and fingerprints
- Any blunt or sharp objects that could be used as weapons
Autopsies will determine the cause of death, but authorities aren’t ruling anything out yet.
