Legendary Hollywood actor Gene Hackman was dead at least 10 days before maintenance workers found the two-time Oscar winner, his wife and one of their dogs inside their sprawling New Mexico home, police said.
The last “event” recorded on “The French Connection” star’s pacemaker was Feb. 17, Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday afternoon.
“That was his last day of life,” he told reporters.
Hackman, 95, his classical pianist wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, and one of their German shepherds were found Wednesday afternoon in the couple’s multi-million dollar home.
The maintenance workers in the couple’s gated community hadn’t seen them in about two weeks — and were alarmed when there was no answer when they came to do work at the home. Police said earlier Friday they suspected the couple had likely been dead for “several days” — or even weeks — by the time their bodies were found.
Hackman was discovered near a pair of sunglasses in what police believe was the mudroom — with officials stating that it appeared he had “suddenly fallen.”
Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa found dead in their home
Arakawa’s body was found decomposed, mummified and bloated on the bathroom floor near an open prescription bottle and scattered pills. The iconic “French Connection” star’s body also showed obvious signs of death, police said.
Police have since seized Tylenol, a thyroid medication and Diltiazem, a high blood pressure pill, along with two green cellphones and a 2025 planner.
Medical records from MyQuest and patient portal from Quest Diagnostics were also taken, according to the search warrant’s inventory list released Friday.
It was not clear who the seized medications belonged to and if they were the ones found near Arakawa.
Police don’t suspect foul play but said the deaths were suspicious enough to launch an investigation, which is continuing with autopsy and toxicology reports underway.
Fire officials have since ruled out a carbon monoxide leak.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
