By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-03-06 07:06:38 | Updated at 2025-03-06 13:16:40
6 hours ago
The mystery behind the twin deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa has barely abated in recent days while law enforcement waits for autopsy and toxicology report results.
Hackman, who was 95, and Arakawa, 65, were discovered in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, by a neighborhood security officer after pest-control workers reported not being able to get in touch with the residents.
Authorities investigating the deaths have already said a deadly carbon monoxide leak is unlikely, but now an expert who is not involved in the investigation is weighing in on another theory — that Hackman's wife Betsy might have died of a 'broken heart.'
James Gill, Chief Medical Examiner for the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, explained to People the possibility that Arakawa might have discovered her husband dead and suffered her own medical emergency as a result.
Gill previously considered another possibility for the publication, that Hackman and Arakawa may have died by 'companion suicide,' which he found to be unlikely.
The medical examiner said he believes, based on the available information, that the actor and his wife may have died from natural causes, which would increase the likelihood of a the 'broken heart' theory.
The twin deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsey Arakawa have raised a startling new theory — that the classical pianist may have died after her husband from a 'broken heart'; pictured together in 1986 in Los Angeles
But an expert not involved in the investigation explained the possibility that Arakawa may have discovered Hackman dead first and then suffered a medical emergency herself, according to People; the late couple's home is pictured on Feb. 27 in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Gill said that the description of how Hackman's body was found suggests that he may have collapsed.
'He's got a history of heart disease. He's got a pacemaker. So that would not be unusual. But the unusual part is that why then did she also collapse?' Gill said.
He assumed that she found her husband on the ground, continuing: 'Then you start wondering about: There is this thing where the stress of seeing someone die that could have triggered a natural death in her.'
Police have said that Hackman was found dead in the house's mud room, with his can and sunglasses near him on the ground, while Arakawa was discovered lying on the bathroom floor with prescription pills strewn across the nearby countertop.
The two are believed to have been dead for several days before they were found, and both bodies had signs of decomposition and were partially mummified.
According to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza, Hackman's pacemaker was last registered as working on February 17, nine days before the bodies were discovered, which could potentially indicate the day he died.
Gill added that the circumstances that the bodies were found in could also supported an equally likely theory.
Rather than Hackman dying or suffering a medical emergency first, Arakawa could have first collapsed before Hackman 'found her and was going out to get help or get his phone, and he then collapsed from the stress of that, too. Just as likely.'
James Gill, Chief Medical Examiner for the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, considered the possibility that the 'stress of seeing [Hackman] die that could have triggered a natural death' for Arakwa; pictured together in 2003 in Beverly Hills
But he added it was 'just as likely' that Arakawa might have collapsed first, and then Hackman could have had a medical emergency as he tried to get her help due to his advanced age and 'known heart disease'
Gill added that Hackman was three decades Arakawa's senior and had 'known heart disease,' which added to the feasibility of that theory.
'But the autopsy would certainly show if she had heart disease or cancer or what have you,' he noted.
According to the medical examiner, either arrangement 'has been known to happen, kind of a broken heart-type thing, almost.'
'Suddenly finding your loved one dead on the floor that can increase your adrenaline and that stimulates your heart to beat faster, and that can put your heart into an irregular rhythm,' Gill explained.
Although he previously indicated that a 'companion suicide' was unlikely, Gill wouldn't rule out the possibility that Arakawa could have found her husband dead and, in an anguished state, could have died by suicide, which might explain the unnamed pills that were spread across the bathroom counter near where her body was discovered.
However, that possibility can't be settled on or ruled out until the results of the toxicology report comes in, which could still take weeks.
Law enforcement officials previously said they would not announce what medications had been left out for privacy reasons.
The results of the toxicology report could also be valuable in ruling out 'intoxication or injuries' as explanations, Gill added.
Another possibility was that Arakawa died by suicide after finding Hackman dead, which could explain pills scattered near her. But only the toxicology report can confirm if that's the case, as police won't reveal the pill names; seen in 1994 with Allison Eastwood (L) in Beverly Hills
The medical examiner previously told People that it was unlikely that Hackman and Arakawa had died by 'companion suicide'; seen in 2003
Gill, who said he had dealt in the past with 'cases like that,' explained that couples who die in a dual suicide are 'usually ... together in bed'; police are seen outside Hackman's home on February 27 in Santa Fe, New Mexico
The medical examiner previously told People that it was unlikely that Hackman and Arakawa had died by suicide together.
Gill, who said he had dealt in the past with 'cases like that,' explained that couples who die in a dual suicide are 'usually ... together in bed.'
However, Hackman was found in the home's mud room, while Arakawa was in the bathroom.
'The fact that they’re in two separate locations tells me that I think that’s less likely,' Gill continued.
The medical examiner said that the initial information about the scene makes it appear as if Hackman had 'collapsed,' especially since he had a history of heart disease and a pacemaker
Another detail Gill focused on was the fact that Hackman was 'ambulatory' before his death, which he thought decreased the likelihood of a scenario in which he was left potentially helpless if Arakawa had died first.
'Sometimes we'll see instances where someone is bedridden and maybe they have dementia and then their caregiver dies from a natural event, and then there's no one there to take care of them, and then they can die from dehydration or what have you,' he explained. 'I don't think that's the case in this.'
That information could be particularly useful to compare to when Arakawa may have died, though Gill admits 'that's a little bit of a more gray area.'
Hackman and Arakawa were found in separate rooms on Feb. 26, which would be unusual for a dual suicide; seen in 1991
Hackman was still 'ambulatory' before his death, so it was less likely that he was left helpless if Arakawa died first. His pacemaker may be able to indicate his time of death; seen in 2003 in Beverly Hills
Some fans of the actor were disturbed to learn that one of the couple's three dogs, a 12-year-old Australian Kelpie mix named Zinna, had been found dead in their home, while the other two dogs were still alive, according to USA Today.
The dead dog had been locked in a closed kennel in a closet near where Arakawa was found, while one live dog was found in the bathroom, just 15 feet from Arakawa's body, while the other was found outside on the property.
Gill said the fact that the dead dog was discovered in its closed crate means it likely died from 'just not getting enough food and water,' adding that dogs 'can only survive for a week or so without food and water.'
According to People, the surviving dogs — a German Shepherd named Bear and a seven-year-old Akita-shepherd mix named Nikita — are now being cared for by a family friend.
Zinna's death was one of the factors that initially fueled rumors that Hackman and Arakawa might have died as the result of a carbon monoxide leak, before it was clarified that the dog had been locked up and therefore didn't have access to sustenance.
Although Gill wasn't moved by the 'companion suicide' theory, it will likely be some time before the investigation is concluded and authorities can reveal what really happened to the Hollywood expatriates.
Hackman had lived a reclusive life in recent years after quietly retiring from acting after filming the 2004 satire Welcome To Mooseport.
Although fans have speculated for years that the film's box-office bomb status might have contributed to his abandonment of Hollywood, Hackman himself explained why he quit acting in a recently resurfaced interview.
Fans have speculated that Hackman's final film Welcome To Mooseport bombing might have contributed to him leaving Hollywood, Hackman himself explained his retirement in 2009; pictured with Christine Baranski in Welcome to Mooseport
In a 2004 interview on Larry King Live, Hackman admitted that he had a 'fear' of dying, though he considered it a normal thing; pictured in 1993 with Clint Eastwood at the 65th Oscars
While speaking to Empire in 2009, several years into his retirement, Hackman revealed that it was his heart keeping him from getting back in front of the camera.
'The straw that broke the camel’s back was actually a stress test that I took in New York,' Hackman explained. 'The doctor advised me that my heart wasn’t in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress.'
Earlier, in a 2004 interview on Larry King Live, Hackman admitted that he had a 'fear' of dying, though he considered it a perfectly normal thing.
'I try to take care of myself,' he said after he was asked if he was worried about his health.
'I don’t have a lot of fears. I have the normal fear of passing away — you know, I guess we all think about that, especially when you get to be a certain age,' he continued.
Hackman added that his main priority was to ensure that his wife and family were 'taken care of.'
'Other than that, I don’t have a lot of fears,' he declared.
He spoke with King the same year that Welcome To Mooseport was released to a disappointing reception from reviewers and audiences alike.
He spoke with King the same year that Welcome To Mooseport was released to a disappointing reception from reviewers and audiences alike; pictured in the film with Marcia Gay Harden
Hackman waited years to confirm that he was retired, all while cinephiles hoped for another late-career triumph; pictured in 1971's The French Connection, which won him the Oscar for Best Actor
While in the midst of a divorce, he decides to run for town mayor to help himself consolidate some of his business interests, but a hardware store owner (Ray Romano) decides to challenge him in hopes that elected office might make his girlfriend fall back in love with him.
Hackman never took another film role after Welcome To Mooseport, and fans of the Oscar winner's numerous classic films were disappointed that he didn't go out on a stronger note.
Part of the disappointment was due to the star's decision to wait several years to confirm his retirement, which left cinephiles pining for another late-career triumph.
It wasn't until a 2008 interview with Reuters — four years after Welcome To Mooseport — that he made his retirement official.
'I haven’t held a press conference to announce retirement, but yes, I’m not going to act any longer,' he said at the time, while explaining why he stayed silent for so long. 'I’ve been told not to say that over the last few years, in case some real wonderful part comes up, but I really don’t want to do it any longer.'
Years before shooting his final film, Hackman made the prospect of a return to the stage also sound unlikely.
'I’d have to be comfortable though,' he said of a possible return while chatting with Charlie Rose. 'I’ve lived a soft life too long to camp out. When I lived in New York, it was a cockroach time for me.'
Comfort was again his primary concern in a 2011 GQ interview in which he mused about returning to film — but only if he could shoot it at home.
Hackman confirmed he was retired four years later, in 2008, and in 2011 he told GQ he would only act again if he could shoot a film at his own home; seen in 2003 in Beverly Hills
Hackman won his second Oscar for Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven. He starred in numerous classics, including Bonnie and Clyde, Scarecrow, Night Moves, Superman and The Royal Tenenbaums (pictured)
'In my own house, maybe, without them disturbing anything and just one or two people,' he said.
Those words took on a more sinister tone after Hackman was found dead at his home in Santa Fe.
Hackman and Arakawa appear to have been dead for some time, and maintenance workers who discovered their bodies said they hadn't seen either of them for two weeks.
A search warrant obtained by DailyMail.com revealed that their bodies were found with signs of mummification.
While the condition is most associated with ancient Egyptian burials, mummification can also occur when bodies are preserved in cold but dry climates in which bacteria struggles to grow, which describes the climate of Santa Fe in February.
Autopsies on the two bodies have already been completed, but authorities are still waiting on the full results, as well as a toxicology report.
