The deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife were found to be “suspicious enough in nature” to require a thorough investigation, a search warrant issued in New Mexico says.
Hackman, 95, and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, 64, were found dead Wednesday afternoon in their home outside Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said. One of their dogs was also found dead.
“It’s not normal to find two people deceased in a residence. That’s concerning,” Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said at a briefing Thursday.
Deputies responded after a maintenance worker found the door to the home open, according to the warrant, which was obtained by CBS News. The deputies indicated there were no signs of forced entry or that the house had been rummaged through.
They found Hackman and Arakawa in different rooms — Hackman in an apparent mudroom and Arakawa in a bathroom. Their bodies showed signs of decomposition, indicating they were likely dead for some time before being found, the warrant says.
“It sounds like they had been deceased for a while,” Mendoza said.
The deputies also said they found a space heater near Arakawa and an open prescription bottle and pills on a countertop close to her.
The deceased dog, a German Shepherd, was found in a closet of the bathroom where Arakawa was found, the warrant says. The dog was in a kennel or a crate, Mendoza said. Deputies found two other healthy dogs on the property or in the house.
The warrant says there were “no obvious signs of a gas leak.”
The Santa Fe City Fire Department responded to test for a possible carbon monoxide leak, but did not find any signs of such a leak, according to the warrant. The New Mexico Gas Company also responded and found no signs or evidence of problems with the pipes in and around the house.
An investigation is ongoing and the causes of death will be determined by a medical examiner, the sheriff’s department said.
“There was no immediate sign of foul play,” Mendoza said, but he added that he hasn’t ruled it out. “This is an investigation, so we’re keeping everything on the table.”
Hackman, a two-time Oscar winner, starred in dozens of movies, including “The French Connection,” “The Conversation,” “Unforgiven” and “Superman.”
His daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie Hackman, and granddaughter, Annie Hackman, released a statement Thursday confirming his and Arakawa’s deaths.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy. 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,” their statement said.
