UPDATE: According to the NY Post, open bottles of pills were found lying about and there was no evidence of a gas leak.
Authorities said the deaths were “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation” after also finding an open pill bottle and pills scattered around the room where Hackman’s wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, and the dog were discovered.
Meanwhile, Hackman’s body was located in a separate room, and there was “no obvious sign of a gas leak,” according to the report.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Sad, and strange news, just breaking. Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman was found dead alongside his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, and their dog in their Santa Fe home yesterday afternoon.
Hackman was 95 at the time of his death and his wife 63.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office confirmed the death to Fox News early Thursday morning, and it is now circulating.
A statement from the Sheriff said:
“On February 26, 2025 at approximately 1:45 p.m., Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to an address on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park where Gene Hackman, 95 and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, and a dog were found deceased.”
Foul play is not suspected at this time, but something has clearly happened here.
More on this as we get it…