Scattered pills found near body of Gene Hackman’s wife; no signs of gas leak

Feb 27

Kennedy Felton Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer

By Kennedy Felton (Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer), Bast Bramhall (Video Editor)

Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their New Mexico home, with initial suspicions of a carbon monoxide leak ruled out. Hackman was found in a mudroom and Arakawa in a bathroom, both showing signs of decomposition.
An open prescription bottle and scattered pills were found near Arakawa’s body, and one of their dogs was also found dead.
The investigation is ongoing, with no evidence of carbon monoxide poisoning or obvious signs of trauma.

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Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, may have been dead for some time before their bodies were discovered Wednesday, Feb. 26. Police initially suspected a carbon monoxide leak, but new details from the investigation suggest otherwise.

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A search warrant affidavit revealed police found Hackman deceased in a mudroom. Investigators found Arakawa’s body on the floor of a bathroom.

Prescription pills found near Arakawa

Police say they found an open prescription bottle and scattered pills on the counter near Arakawa’s body. Authorities noted signs of decomposition.

In a nearby bathroom closet, one of the couple’s dogs was found dead. However, two other dogs were still alive on the property.

Hackman’s body also showed signs of decomposition. The affidavit states he was found with his cane. They said this suggests he may have suddenly fallen.

911 call reveals caretaker’s distress

TMZ obtained the emotional 911 call made by a caretaker who discovered the couple’s bodies.

“Are they moving at all?” the dispatcher asked.

“No, they are not moving! Please, just send somebody up here really quick!” the caretaker responded.

No evidence of carbon monoxide poisoning

The fire department did not detect any signs of a carbon monoxide leak. The New Mexico Gas Company conducted additional tests inside and around the home. Officials said they are assisting the sheriff’s office as the investigation continues.

Investigation still ongoing

According to The New York Times, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office is working to determine the cause of death. There were no obvious signs of trauma, and no note was found.

Authorities are still searching the couple’s home. Police are expected to release more details once autopsies are completed.

Tags: Celebrities, Death, Entertainment, Hollywood, Investigation, New Mexico

[KENNEDY FELTON]

POLICE NOW SUSPECT THAT OSCAR WINNING ACTOR GENE HACKMAN AND HIS WIFE – BETSY ARAKAWA – HAD BEEN DECEASED FOR SOME TIME BEFORE THEIR BODIES WERE DISCOVERED WEDNESDAY.

IT WAS INITIALLY SUSPECTED THAT A CARBON MONOXIDE LEAK OCCURRED – ESPECIALLY SINCE ONE OF THEIR DOGS WAS ALSO FOUND DEAD. HOWEVER – DETAILS FROM A SEARCH WARRANT AFFIDAVIT NOW REVEAL A DIFFERENT SCENE. 95 YEAR OLD HACKMAN WAS FOUND DECEASED IN A MUDROOM… WHILE ARAKAWA WAS DISCOVERED ON THE FLOOR OF A BATHROOM.

AN OPEN PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE AND SCATTERED PILLS WERE FOUND ON THE COUNTER NEAR HIS 63 YEAR OLD WIFE’S BODY… WHICH SHOWED SIGNS OF DECOMPOSITION. NEARBY IN A BATHROOM CLOSET… THEIR DECEASED DOG WAS ALSO FOUND. TWO OTHER DOGS WERE ALIVE ON THEIR PROPERTY.

HACKMAN’S BODY WAS ALSO IN A SIMILAR STATE OF DECOMPOSITION. THE AFFIDAVIT STATES THAT HE WAS FOUND WITH HIS CANE… SUGGESTING HE MAY HAVE SUDDENLY FALLEN. INVESTIGATORS NOTES TWO REDACTED NAMES IN THE AFFIDAVIT… INDIVIDUALS WHO LAST HAD CONTACT WITH THE COUPLE ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE THEIR BODIES WERE FOUND.

T-M-Z OBTAINED THE EMOTIONAL 9-1-1 CALL FROM A CARETAKER WHO DISCOVERED THE BODIES… FRANTICALLY REQUESTING HELP.

“ARE THEY MOVING AT ALL?” “NO THEY ARE NOT MOVING PLEASE JUST SEND SOMEBODY UP HERE REALLY QUICK.”

FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ALSO FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A CARBON MONOXIDE LEAK OR POISONING. THE NEW MEXICO GAS COMPANY CONDUCTED TESTS INSIDE AND AROUND THE RESIDENCE… AND WILL CONTINUE ASSISTING THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AS THE INVESTIGATION UNFOLDS.

ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK TIMES – THE SANTA FE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS STILL WORKING TO DETERMINE THE COUPLE’S CAUSE OF DEATH. THERE WERE NO OBVIOUS SIGNS OF TRAUMA… AND NO NOTE WAS FOUND. THEIR HOME REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.. AND MORE DETAILS ARE EXPECTED ONCE AUTOPSIES ARE COMPLETED.