Pills found scattered near body of Gene Hackman’s wife are ‘of concern’

Saturday, 1 March 2025

The pills found splayed across the counter of a bathroom where Gene Hackman’s wife was found dead are “of concern”, Adam Mendoza, the Santa Fe sheriff, has said.

The bodies of Hackman, who was 95, and his 65-year-old wife Betsy Arakawa, were discovered in different parts of their sprawling home in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Wednesday. One of their dogs, an Alsatian, was also found dead, but two others were still alive.

Investigators said they may have remained undiscovered for days or weeks and Arakawa’s body had signs of mummification. Hackman’s body was found in the mudroom while Arakawa was found in a bathroom.

Speaking on NBC’s Today programme, Mr Mendoza described the prescription bottles as “very important evidence”, which had been passed onto the medical investigator.

“We’re looking at that specifically, and other medications possibly in the residence.”

According to a police affidavit, the pills were found scattered on a countertop.

Although toxicology tests have been carried out on the couple, Mendoza said it could take up to three months for the report to be released.

“Hopefully it will help us to determine the cause of death,” the sheriff added.

“I think the autopsy report is going to be the key to this investigation.”

“Just based on their bodies and other evidence on the body, it appears several days and possibly up to a couple weeks,” the sheriff continued.

While police are “pretty confident” that the deaths were not due to foul play, they are treating the deaths as suspicious.

“The autopsy results, – official results – will steer us in the right direction,” Mendoza added.

“That could change, obviously, and we’re not ruling that out. This is an open investigation. It’s a couple [of] days old. We’re putting together the timeline, we’re trying to figure out all the evidence.”

Speaking at a press conference on Friday afternoon (Saturday NZT), Mendoza said the last activity on Hackman’s heart pacemaker was on February 17.

According to the post mortem examination there was no evidence of carbon monoxide poisoning, nor was there any sign of trauma – ruling out the possibility of a fall.

He added that investigators will investigate events leading up to the couple’s death and toxicology tests will be expedited to find more definitive information.

Mendoza said that investigators will study the planner which was found at the house.

“We’re contacting workers, maintenance workers, family members and security.

“We will be analysing cell phone data, phone calls, text messages, events and photos in the cell phone to try to piece a timeline together.”

Fox News reported that police had taken two mobile phones, medical records, along with the painkiller Tylenol – the American name for paracetamol – from the house along with thyroid and blood pressure medication.

The possibility that the couple died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning has not been completely ruled out, even though there was no evidence of gas when the fire department entered the building.

Brian Moya, the fire chief, said there was a possibility that the gas could have dissipated since the couple died.

Tributes paid

Hollywood has paid tribute to Hackman.

“Gene Hackman, a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity. I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution,” said Francis Ford Coppola, who directed him in The Conversation.

Bill Murray described Hackman as a “tough nut” who was a “really good actor”, who would have had little patience with the latest generation of filmmakers.

“So he was a little irritable, but he had to work with children, dogs … they put him in very challenging positions to work, and so he just felt a lot of responsibility and kept thinking, ‘What am I doing here with these people?”

Clint Eastwood added: “There was no finer actor than Gene. Intense and instinctive. Never a false note. He was also a dear friend whom I will miss very much.”