An autopsy and toxicology test to determine a cause of death was completed Thursday for Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa. Results are still pending and the investigation remains open, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement to press.
The sheriff maintained midday Thursday that there were no apparent signs of foul play as the Oscar-winning actor and Arakawa’s cause of death remains undetermined.
“Initial findings noted no external trauma to either individual” and “the manner and cause of death has not been determined,” the office said.
Additional takeaways from the department’s afternoon statement to press largely echoed earlier reports: The couple was found dead at around 1:45 p.m. local time on Wednesday after an individual approached their residence on Old Sunset Trail to perform maintenance and, receiving no answer at the door, alerted security. Security then conducted a welfare check and called 9-1-1 after spotting their unconscious bodies through a window.
“Deputies arrived and gained access to the residence where they observed Mrs. Arakawa deceased. They continued their search of the home and located Mr. Hackman in another area, also deceased. A dog was also found deceased,” the sheriff department’s statement read.
Two other dogs were also found on site and were apparently healthy — the Santa Fe County Animal Control Division worked with Hackman’s surviving family to ensure the safety of both animals.
Due to the unusual circumstances of the scene — among them Hackman’s body being found collapsed in his home’s mudroom while Arakawa was found in the bathroom with unidentified scattered pills nearby — the criminal investigations division were brought on site and the Santa Fe City Fire personnel and the New Mexico Gas Company were brought to test for carbon monoxide or other foreign elements. At approximately 9:30 p.m. local time Wednesday, the scene was secured and a search warrant was issued and executed on the residence.
“Investigation personnel worked diligently throughout the night and morning to process the scene for evidence,” the sheriff’s office release reads. “It should be noted there were no apparent signs of foul play. In the early hours of Thursday, Feb. 27, Hackman and Arakawa were transported to the Office of the Medical Investigator. An autopsy was performed. Initial findings noted no external trauma to either individual. Carbon monoxide and toxicology tests were requested for both individuals. The manner and cause of death has not been determined. The official results of the autopsy and toxicology reports are pending. This remains an open investigation.”
Investigators also offered condolences to the Hackman and Arakawa family, who earlier Thursday shared their grief in a statement to press.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy,” Hackman’s daughters Elizabeth and Leslie and granddaughter Annie told TheWrap in a Thursday statement. “He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”
