New Developments in the Investigation of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s Deaths

In the aftermath of the tragic discovery of Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa, and one of their beloved dogs found deceased in their New Mexico residence on February 26, the Santa Fe County Sheriff, Adan Mendoza, has revealed significant developments regarding the investigation.

Documents acquired through a search warrant, reported by NBC News on February 27, disclose that Arakawa, aged 65, was found lying on the bathroom floor, not far from a space heater. Alarmingly, an open bottle of prescription medication was present, with pills strewn across the countertop. The medications collected as evidence included a thyroid prescription with the name withheld, Tylenol as a pain reliever, and Diltiazem for blood pressure management, according to E!News.

In addition to these medications, investigators seized a monthly planner from 2025, two green cell phones, and several documents from MyQuest, an online platform for accessing lab results.

Sherriff Mendoza underscored the significance of the discovered drugs in his active investigation, describing them as “a matter of concern,” and emphasized that further analysis might take upwards of three months.

Insights into Gene Hackman’s Final Days

New insights into Gene Hackman’s last days emerged from his pacemaker, which was evaluated during the ongoing investigation. The device last operated on February 17, which suggests that the esteemed Oscar-winning actor may have passed away nine days prior to when he, along with his wife, was found in their home, as stated by Sheriff Mendoza.

“An initial examination of Mr. Hackman’s pacemaker was conducted, yielding data that its last activity was on February 17, 2025. We are awaiting a comprehensive analysis,” detailed Sheriff Mendoza, sharing insights with the Independent. “It’s a reasonable assumption that it marks his last day alive,” he added.

Elizabeth Jean and Leslie Anne Hackman, two of Gene Hackman’s three children, expressed concerns to DailyMail.com earlier, speculating that their parents might have succumbed to deadly fumes from a suspected carbon monoxide leak.

Following the discovery, Santa Fe City Fire in collaboration with the New Mexico Gas Company conducted thorough testing for carbon monoxide and other toxins within the residence. Their findings concluded that no hazardous substances were detected, indicating that the area was not harmful.