
Hollywood icon Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, had reportedly been deceased for an extended period before their bodies were discovered in separate rooms of their Santa Fe, New Mexico, residence earlier this week, according to a newly released warrant.
News of the 95-year-old actor’s passing, along with his 63-year-old wife, broke yesterday, sending shockwaves across social media as fans mourned and speculated about the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Hackman’s daughter, Elizabeth, shared her thoughts in an interview with TMZ, suggesting that carbon monoxide poisoning may have been the cause. “The house is fairly modern, built in 2000, but we don’t know if there were any issues with gas leaks or if there were any recent service calls to the property,” she explained.
As investigators work to piece together what happened inside the home, new details have emerged. According to a search warrant from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, Hackman’s body was found in a mudroom, while Arakawa was discovered in a bathroom near a space heater.

The warrant also noted the presence of an open prescription bottle and scattered pills on the bathroom counter. However, authorities, including sheriff’s office spokesperson Denise Avila, confirmed that neither Hackman nor Arakawa displayed any signs of physical trauma or gunshot wounds.
The exact duration of their passing before discovery remains unclear, but MailOnline reports that their remains were in a partially mummified state.
Despite the devastating loss, Elizabeth reflected on her father’s peaceful life in retirement. After stepping away from Hollywood in 2004, Hackman and Arakawa embraced a quiet existence in New Mexico, where the Oscar-winning actor devoted himself to painting. According to Elizabeth, one of her father’s most cherished roles was in The French Connection, a performance that solidified his legacy as one of cinema’s greatest talents.
