The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico has suggested that actor Gene Hackman was dead for a lot longer than first thought following the discovery of his dead body at his house.
Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, were both found dead at their home in Santa Fe this week, with one of their dogs also having perished. An investigation is ongoing.
According to the authorities, no foul play was suspected, and preliminary autopsy reports, which have since come out, didn’t show any signs of external trauma to either of the deceased. Surprisingly, however, they both tested negative for carbon monoxide, which was the overriding theory after they were discovered.
Police revealed earlier this week that Arakawa was found on a floor in a bathroom with pills scattered around her. They say her body had “obvious signs of death, body decomposition, bloating in her face and mummification in both hands and feet.”
Gene Hackman May Have Been Dead For Over A Week Before His Body Was Discovered
Folks did find that puzzling as Hackman and his wife were initially thought to have died the day before they were found. But the latest update from the Sheriff’s Department should explain the mummification.
According to Sheriff Adan Mendoza, the last recording from the actor’s pacemaker was from February 17th, which is when the department reckons he actually died.
“The last event [of his pacemaker] was recorded on 17 February 2025,” he said, per CNN. “According to the pathologist, I think that is a very good assumption, that was his last day of life.”
That would mean Hackman was dead for nine days before he and his wife were found.
Arakawa is likely to have died at the same time.
Hackman’s children were among those who suspected carbon monoxide poisoning. Sadly, it could be a while before they find out what really killed their father, as Mendoza has disclosed that the final autopsy results could be at least three months out.
