Emotional 911 caller recounts discovering Gene Hackman and his wife in distress.
Authorities are looking into the tragic deaths of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa, and their dog at their home in New Mexico. A maintenance worker found their partially mummified bodies on Wednesday. Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene and discovered Betsy’s body in the bathroom with prescription pills scattered on the counter. Gene’s body was located in another room, as detailed in a search warrant filed with the Santa Fe County court. Both bodies showed signs of having fallen suddenly, and they were partially decomposed, with their hands and feet showing mummification.
The investigation revealed no obvious signs of serious trauma, carbon monoxide poisoning, or any indication that someone had broken into their home. While one dog was found dead inside, two other dogs were seen running around the property. The deputies noted that the deaths appeared suspicious enough to warrant a thorough investigation, although the Sheriff’s Office stated that there were no clear signs of foul play.
A 911 call obtained by Fox News captured the distressing moments leading up to the police’s arrival. The caller, whose name was not disclosed, sounded shaken and told the dispatcher he saw one or two unmoving bodies inside the house. He repeatedly urged for help, saying, “No, they are not moving. Please send someone out here quick.”
When deputies arrived at the house on Old Sunset Trail just before 2 p.m., they noticed that the front door was slightly open. Inside, they found the bodies of 95-year-old Gene Hackman, 64-year-old Betsy Arakawa, and their dog. Betsy’s body was discovered in the bathroom near a space heater, which a deputy thought might have fallen if she had collapsed suddenly.
The Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that a complete investigation is in progress. The cause of death will be determined by the state Office of the Medical Investigator, and the case remains open while authorities await the results of autopsies and toxicology tests. Initial autopsies indicated that there was no external trauma found on either Gene or Betsy.
The warrant noted that a dead German shepherd was found in a closet in the bathroom, about 10 to 15 feet from Betsy. Gene’s body was found on the kitchen floor, suggesting he may have fallen unexpectedly, with a walking cane and sunglasses located nearby.
Gene’s daughter, Leslie, spoke to Fox News about her father, stating that he was in good health and active, regularly practicing yoga and Pilates. Although she hadn’t seen him for a few years, they kept in close contact over the past couple of months. “I loved him dearly. He was a genuinely good-hearted person,” she expressed.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza mentioned to a local newspaper that it was unclear when the couple had died, emphasizing that there was no immediate danger to the community. The maintenance worker, who found the couple, last had contact with them about two weeks ago.
During their investigation, deputies found two other dogs on the property—one in the bathroom close to Betsy and another outside. The garage was locked, as were other buildings on the premises, and there were no signs that the home had been searched or that items were missing. The deputy clearing the house reported that everything appeared to be in order.
The Santa Fe Fire Department ruled out carbon monoxide leaks or poisoning, with no immediate problems found in the home’s gas lines. After ensuring the house was safe, investigators carried out a search warrant later that evening, working through the night. Gene Hackman’s and Betsy Arakawa’s bodies were taken away early the next morning.
