Gene Hackman, wife, dog found dead 2/26/2025

[marshmallow]

"Gene Hackman, the screen actor with iconic roles in The French Connection and Superman, has died. He was 95.

The actor and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, were found dead at their home in Santa Fe Summit on Wednesday, Feb. 26, reported the Santa Fe New Mexican, citing County Sheriff Adan Mendoza, who confirmed to the outlet that the couple had died, along with their dog.

Mendoza added there was no immediate indication of foul play in the deaths, the outlet added. He also did not provide a cause of death or say when the couple, who were married for over 30 years, might have died. "



https://people.com/gene-hackman-wife...e-home-7502751

[Nic B]

Guessing carbon monixide.

[Bewitchingstorm]

This one hurts. I loved him ~ such a brilliant actor. I wonder if it was carbon monoxide poisoning?

[Bewitchingstorm]

Guessing carbon monixide.

We literally posted at the same time with the same thoughts.

[marshmallow]

I agree with both of you. It was my first thought as well.

[Angiebla]

My husband told me about it and said it was weird and I said not really, it was carbon monoxide.

[Bewitchingstorm]

Okay, this is getting interesting.

Gene Hackman's death and the deaths of his wife and dog are puzzling authorities, who have labeled his passing "suspicious."

According to a search warrant, obtained by TMZ, a Santa Fe detective who sought a search warrant wrote in his affidavit, he believes "the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation because the reporting party found the front door of the residence unsecured and opened, deputies observed a healthy dog running loose on the property, another healthy dog near the deceased female, a deceased dog laying 10-15 feet from the deceased female in a closet of the bathroom, the heater being moved, the pill bottle being opened and pills scattered next to the female, the male decedent being located in a separate room of the residence, and no obvious signs of a gas leak."

Gene's wife, Betsy Arakawa, was found in the bathroom on the ground near the countertop, lying on her right side. The deputy saw a black space heater near her head. The deputy believed the heater could have fallen in the event Betsy abruptly fell to the ground.

The deputy also noticed an orange prescription bottle on the countertop, which was open with pills scattered on the countertop. It appears she had been dead for some time, because the body was in a state of decomposition with bloating in her face and mummification in her hands and feet.

Gene was found in a separate room off the kitchen. He was fully clothed and they suspected he may have suddenly fallen, because his sunglasses were found next to his body.

The fire department came and advised they did not see any signs of carbon monoxide leak or poisoning. The New Mexico gas company came to the residence and conducted testing on the gas lines in and around the house, and concluded, "As of now, there are no signs or evidence indicating there were any problems associated to the pipes in and around the residence."

The deceased dog, a German Shepherd, was found 10 to 15 feet from Betsy, in a closet of the bathroom. Two other dogs were found alive and healthy -- one inside the house and one outside.

The bodies were discovered by 2 maintenance workers, who said they hadn't seen them in approximately 2 weeks. When the maintenance workers arrived to discover the bodies, the front door was ajar, but the deputy says there were no signs of forced entry.

https://www.tmz.com/2025/02/27/gene-...ous/#continued

[Nic B]

Hm....could be murder suicide. Or, he died a natural death and she killed herself out of grief?

[Angiebla]

Maybe the deceased dog ate some of her pills on the ground?

Was he in an advanced state of decomp?

[Nic B]

Maybe the deceased dog ate some of her pills on the ground?

Was he in an advanced state of decomp?

That would be pretty crazy, every dog I have ever had that I had to feed pills to, it was near impossible to get them to swallow it

[marshmallow]

well that changes it up. this one just got complicated?

[Angiebla]

That would be pretty crazy, every dog I have ever had that I had to feed pills to, it was near impossible to get them to swallow it

Every dog I saw at the clinic only ate pills they werent supposed to There was a dog that ate a bottle of Adderall, and I just sat there looking at him like "how are you alive" he chased his tail until he wore himself out. He was fine.

The dog could have been really hungry if it wasnt fed for awhile.

But I do think she let the dogs out before, you know.

Im starting to go with Nic's theory, she found him dead and, you know.

I read elsewhere he had the same amount of decomp. So they died around the same time.

[Nic B]

Every dog I saw at the clinic only ate pills they werent supposed to There was a dog that ate a bottle of Adderall, and I just sat there looking at him like "how are you alive" he chased his tail until he wore himself out. He was fine.

The dog could have been really hungry if it wasnt fed for awhile.

But I do think she let the dogs out before, you know.

Im starting to go with Nic's theory, she found him dead and, you know.

I read elsewhere he had the same amount of decomp. So they died around the same time.

The dog I have now eats hers (flea and tick, and heartworm meds) but she is dumb and will eat anything. We trick her into thinking it's a treat, granted they are now in a treat form instead of a pill. But seriously, she will eat ANYTHING. Hot cheetos, lettuce...even stuff not edible. She ate the leather off a softball, and even a dead bird - feathers flying out her mouth and all.

Anyways, back on topic. I will be shocked if this was a double murder. They did mention the front door being open, but that doesn't really mean anything to me. If there were signs of forced entry, then yeah that's different.

The only reason I brought up him dying naturally instead of straight up murder/suicide is because, well, he was 95.

[Angiebla]

The dog I have now eats hers (flea and tick, and heartworm meds) but she is dumb and will eat anything. We trick her into thinking it's a treat, granted they are now in a treat form instead of a pill. But seriously, she will eat ANYTHING. Hot cheetos, lettuce...even stuff not edible. She ate the leather off a softball, and even a dead bird - feathers flying out her mouth and all.

Anyways, back on topic. I will be shocked if this was a double murder. They did mention the front door being open, but that doesn't really mean anything to me. If there were signs of forced entry, then yeah that's different.

The only reason I brought up him dying naturally instead of straight up murder/suicide is because, well, he was 95.

Your dog sound's like my old nephew lab. Oscar was the best. He ate a box of heartworm medicine and a whole raw chicken. I miss him

I take back what I said about the dog. It was found in a closet.

When I said "you know" I meant she killed herself.

[marshmallow]

The dog I have now eats hers (flea and tick, and heartworm meds) but she is dumb and will eat anything. We trick her into thinking it's a treat, granted they are now in a treat form instead of a pill. But seriously, she will eat ANYTHING. Hot cheetos, lettuce...even stuff not edible. She ate the leather off a softball, and even a dead bird - feathers flying out her mouth and all.

Anyways, back on topic. I will be shocked if this was a double murder. They did mention the front door being open, but that doesn't really mean anything to me. If there were signs of forced entry, then yeah that's different.

The only reason I brought up him dying naturally instead of straight up murder/suicide is because, well, he was 95.

my thoughts, newly formed, they got up, he went to do his thing, she let the dog(s) out and came back in to find him dead from sudden heart attack?, she decided she wanted to join him and took multiple pills spilling some in the process and one dog at them as they hit the floor.

for right now that's all I can figure.

[Nic B]

I would be curious to know how long they were there before being found. Is it possible the dog who died needed medication, and died because he didn't get it? That would explain the other 2 dogs who were okay.

Either that or she killed the dog, but why kill one and not the others?

Or the dog ate the pills, crawled into the closet and died.

[Bewitchingstorm]

Wasn't the dog that died found in a closet?

[Nic B]

Wasn't the dog that died found in a closet?

I believe so. But was the closet open or closed?

[Bewitchingstorm]

I believe so. But was the closet open or closed?

You should be a detective.

[Nic B]

You should be a detective.

I would LOVE to take a look around a crime scene, I am weird like that haha

[Bewitchingstorm]

I would LOVE to take a look around a crime scene, I am weird like that haha

My detective hat is more focused on missing persons, so we would make an outstanding team if a missing person was found murdered.

[Angiebla]

I would LOVE to take a look around a crime scene, I am weird like that haha

Same. I'd like to put the pieces together. But this is coming from someone who has never seen a rotting corpse. I would probably faint.

[Nic B]

My detective hat is more focused on missing persons, so we would make an outstanding team if a missing person was found murdered.

We shall call ourselves Bewitchnic!

[jennafyre]

Is it possible the space heater leaked carbon monoxide and she fell and unplugged it so there was no sign? I think the dogs opened the front door.

[Bewitchingstorm]

We shall call ourselves Bewitchnic!