Gene Hackman’s pacemaker stopped 10 days before his and wife’s ‘mummified’ bodies were found

Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, might have been dead for several days before they were discovered, according to officials. They confirmed that Hackman’s pacemaker was last active on February 17.

The famous actor, who is 95, and his wife, a classical pianist aged 64, were found in their home in Santa Fe, along with their pet dog.

Sheriff’s deputies located Hackman in the kitchen, while Arakawa and the dog were found in a bathroom, where there were scattered pills from an open prescription bottle on the counter.

It looked like both of them had suddenly collapsed, and there were no signs of any injuries, as stated in the affidavit.

At a press conference on Friday, it was mentioned that Hackman might have passed away around 10 days ago when his pacemaker stopped functioning.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adam Mendoza reported that both Hackman and Arakawa tested negative for carbon monoxide poisoning. He also noted that Hackman’s pacemaker recorded its last activity on February 17, which was ten days before they were found.

He mentioned that they first looked into Mr. Hackman’s pacemaker.

This check showed that the last event it recorded was on February 17, 2025, and he was told that a more detailed investigation would be done soon.

When asked if that meant Hackman had passed away on that date, he answered, “Based on what the pathologist said, I think it’s a reasonable guess that was his last day alive.”

He also noted, “The early findings showed no signs of injury on either person.

We still haven’t figured out how or why they died.

We’re waiting for the official autopsy and toxicology results.”

During a virtual interview on the Today show this morning, Sheriff Mendoza provided more details about the situation, saying that officers were still working on creating an official timeline.

“We don’t have any more information right now. We’re trying to piece everything together, including when the deceased were last seen or talked to,” he stated.

This is a really difficult situation because the family kept to themselves a lot. Right now, we are doing our best to collect all the information we can find.

When asked how long they might have been missing, he replied, “It’s really tough to determine a timeline, even with assistance from the medical investigator’s office.

Just by looking at their bodies and other evidence, it appears they had been gone for several days, possibly even up to a couple of weeks.”

On Thursday, Santa Fe County shared audio from a 911 call where a worker at the property mentioned he couldn’t enter the house but could see a woman lying on the floor through the window.

In the call, the worker stated, “I think we just found two people, one dead inside the house. There’s no address. I’ll wait for you at the gate. Please send someone quickly.”

They claim they don’t know who Hackman and Arakawa are, and they don’t mention their ages or names during the call.

When the dispatcher asks if they are with the patients, the caretaker replies that they are outside the house, looking in.

“I have no clue. I’m not inside. The door is locked, and I can’t get in. But I can see them. She’s lying on the floor from the window,” they explain.

The caller mentions that the patients don’t seem to be awake or alert, and they can’t hear any coughing or crying when the dispatcher asks.

“No, they’re not moving. Please send someone out here really fast,” they urge, while the dispatcher reassures them that help is on the way.

The person on the phone ended the conversation by saying sorry after being asked if there was a way to get into the property.

The Santa Fe New Mexican, a local news source, shared that Mendoza confirmed the tragic news early Thursday morning.

A search warrant that TMZ got revealed that Arakawa was discovered in a bathroom, and it looked like she had been dead for a while since her body was in a decomposed state.

Her face showed signs of bloating, and her hands and feet were mummified. Sadly, their dog was also found dead in a closet in the bathroom.

Hackman was located in another room and was fully dressed at that time.

The documents, according to BBC, state: “The male victim also displayed clear signs of having passed away, which were similar to those of the female victim.”

During a news conference on Thursday afternoon, Sheriff Mendoza mentioned: “It seems like they had been dead for quite some time, but I don’t want to speculate on how long exactly.”

He added, “There were no immediate signs of foul play, but we haven’t completely ruled it out.”

The initial findings from a medical examination indicated that neither person had any “external injuries.” The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office reported: “In the early hours of Thursday, February 27, 2025, Hackman and Arakawa were taken to the Office of the Medical Investigator.”

An autopsy was done, and the first results showed that neither person had any visible injuries.

The final results from the autopsy and toxicology tests are still being awaited, and the cause and manner of death have not been figured out yet, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

While there are no immediate worries about foul play, Hackman’s family suspects that carbon monoxide poisoning might be the reason.

His daughter, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, shared with the media that no one really knows what happened, but they think it could be linked to harmful fumes.

Hackman’s other daughter, Leslie, mentioned that there were no signs of any issues before her father passed away.

She also told Mail Online that even though he was older, he was in really good shape.

He enjoyed practicing Pilates and yoga, and he kept it up several times a week. Because of that, he was in great shape.

Leslie, one of the three kids from his first marriage to Faye Maltese, mentioned that her father’s passing wasn’t too surprising since he was 95 years old.

She also shared that she hadn’t seen or heard from her dad in a few months because she lives in California, even though they had a close bond.

Leslie, who is 58, said, “We were really close. I hadn’t spoken to him in a couple of months, but everything seemed normal and good.”

She emphasized that her dad, the Oscar-winning actor, and his wife Betsy had a fantastic marriage after being together for over 30 years.

Leslie added, “They had a wonderful marriage, and I really credit his wife, Betsy, for helping him stay healthy.”

‘[Betsy] took very, very good care of him and was always looking out for his health.

I am really thankful to her for everything, and I feel very sad about her passing.

Leslie said she will be going to New Mexico as soon as the police give her more details since the authorities mentioned that the situation surrounding the two deaths was unusual.

She added, “We have to wait for the police to share any information. We didn’t think we would need to go there and deal with the house and everything.”

His family also shared a heartfelt tribute that said, “He was loved and respected by millions for his amazing acting, but to us, he was always just Dad and Grandpa.

We will really miss him and are heartbroken by this loss.”

TMZ has reported that both the fire department and the gas company in New Mexico checked the property and found no evidence of carbon monoxide leaks.

The gas company stated, “Currently, there are no signs or proof that there were any issues with the pipes in and around the house.”

It’s important to mention that the cause of death is still not confirmed, and investigations are ongoing.

A neighbor expressed worry about their safety, leading officers to conduct a welfare check at their home, according to ABC News.

That’s when the bodies were found, as explained by Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Denise Avila.

KOB4 has reported that police arrived at the scene around 1:45 PM, and later in the evening, the sheriff’s office identified the couple.

During an interview on Wednesday night, the sheriff mentioned that there are no immediate worries about any criminal activity, but he didn’t share what caused their deaths.

According to a statement from the sheriff, which was shared by PA, he confirmed that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found dead at their home on Sunset Trail on Wednesday afternoon.

He added, “This is an ongoing investigation, but right now, we don’t think foul play was involved. We are currently in the early stages of looking into the deaths and are waiting for a search warrant to be approved.”

A famous actor, Hackman won two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, four Golden Globes, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and the Silver Bear during his impressive career that lasted over sixty years.

He and his wife had been together since 1991 and relocated to New Mexico from Los Angeles in 2004. The last time they were spotted together was in the Santa Fe area in February 2025.

Hackman was born in California in 1930 and joined the army at 16 by lying about his age. He served in the Marines for four and a half years before he decided to chase his dream of becoming an actor.

He played many unforgettable roles, but he will likely be most remembered for his two Academy Award-winning performances.

He received his first Oscar for playing Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle in the thrilling movie The French Connection, directed by William Friedkin, in 1971. He won another Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role as ‘Little’ Bill Daggett in Clint Eastwood’s Western film Unforgiven, released in 1992.

He was also nominated for Oscars for his performances in Bonnie and Clyde (1967), I Never Sang for My Father (1970), and Mississippi Burning (1988).

Throughout his career, this talented actor took on more than 100 roles, including the character Lex Luthor in the Superman films from the 1970s and 1980s.

He mentioned that his favorite role was in the 1973 movie Scarecrow, where he acted alongside Al Pacino.

Additionally, he appeared in popular films like Runaway Jury and Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation, which won the Palm d’Or, as well as Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums.

His final movie role was in Welcome to Mooseport in 2004, where he portrayed Monroe Cole.

Facing a lot of stress and feeling burnt out, Hackman chose to stop acting because of heart issues in 2004. Five years later, he shared with Empire that a stress test he took in New York was the turning point for him.

The doctor informed him that his heart wasn’t in good enough condition to handle any stress.

In 2008, he told Reuters that he was confident in his choice to step away from Hollywood: “I haven’t held a press conference to announce retirement, but yes, I’m not going to act any longer.”

He mentioned that he had been advised not to say he was done acting in case a great role came along, but he really didn’t want to act anymore.

He started writing novels around this time and mentioned to the publication, “I actually enjoy the solitude of it. It’s kind of like acting in some ways, but it feels more personal, and I have more control over what I want to express and create.”

He continued, “In acting and film, there’s always some give and take because you collaborate with so many people, and everyone has their own ideas. I can’t say I prefer it over acting; it’s just a different experience. I find it soothing and comforting.”

From 1999 to 2013, Hackman wrote five novels mostly in the historical fiction genre: Wake of the Perdido Star (1999), Justice for None (2004), Escape from Andersonville (2008), Payback at Morning Peak (2011), and Pursuit (2013).

Although the media often described him as impatient and irritable, Hackman really didn’t like the spotlight and all the fuss that came with being famous.

In a 1992 interview with All About Actors, when asked about this image, he replied, “That’s probably true. The film industry is really stressful, and often, people doing interviews wait around for days before they finally get to talk to you, or even after the interview is over.”

Sometimes, you just forget that people are watching, and you might say something without thinking, or you could be feeling impatient or tired. Then they write about it. That’s fine with me. I mean, I do get frustrated, angry, or upset sometimes, but it doesn’t really bother me that much.

He went on to share how he feels about the media: “I take a lot of pictures, and then I just move on. Sometimes I do some publicity for them, but most of the time, I try to avoid it.”

He often mentioned how he sees his role as an actor as different from being a movie star. He famously said, “I was trained to act, not to be famous.”

“I learned to play characters, not to handle fame, agents, lawyers, and the media.”

“It really takes a toll on me emotionally to see myself in movies. I think of myself as still young, but then I see this older guy with saggy skin, tired eyes, and thinning hair.”

Many people are starting to share their thoughts about the amazing actor who has passed away. George Takei from Star Trek posted on X, saying, “We have lost one of the true giants of the screen.”

He talked about how Gene Hackman could play any character and make you feel like you were seeing a real life story. He could be a big star or just an ordinary person.

That shows how incredible he was as an actor. We will definitely miss him, but his movies will always be around.

Clint Eastwood, who worked with Hackman in Unforgiven, shared his feelings with People Magazine, saying, “There was no better actor than Gene. He was intense and had a natural talent. He never got it wrong.”

He also mentioned that Hackman was a close friend and that he will really miss him.

Morgan Freeman shared on Twitter that one of the best moments in his career was working on the French film Gardé a Vue (Under Suspicion) alongside the talented Gene Hackman. He also mentioned the movie Unforgiven and said, “Rest in peace, my friend.”

Tom Hanks posted a nostalgic picture of Hackman on Instagram, saying, “There has never been a ‘Gene Hackman Type.’ There has only been Gene Hackman.”

Francis Ford Coppola, who collaborated with Hackman on The Conversation, also took to Instagram to express his feelings: “The loss of a great artist is always a reason for both sadness and celebration. Gene Hackman was an amazing actor, inspiring and complex in his work. I mourn his loss and celebrate his life and contributions.”

Writer Dara Ó Briain shared his thoughts on Gene Hackman, saying, “Ah, Gene Hackman. I believe he’s the best actor ever! He never gave a bad performance throughout his long career. And his delivery of the word ‘Cigars!’ in Young Frankenstein is the best ever.”

Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis posted a picture of Hackman on Instagram, saying, “I loved you in everything! The Conversation, The French Connection, The Poseidon Adventure, Unforgiven—so tough yet so vulnerable. You were truly one of the greats. God bless those who loved you. Rest in peace, sir.”

Actor Josh Brolin, famous for movies like The Goonies and No Country for Old Men, expressed his sadness, writing, “I am heartbroken by the sudden passing of Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa, and their dog. Heartbroken. He was always one of my favorites. Not many people dared to be as unique as he was. Rest in peace.”

Anil Kapoor, who starred in Slumdog Millionaire, praised Gene Hackman as a ‘genius’ actor. He shared on social media, “A true legend whose legacy will live on.”

Valerie Perrine, who played Eve Teschmacher, Hackman’s girlfriend in Superman, expressed her sadness on X: “The amazing Gene Hackman has passed away. He was a genius and one of the greatest actors to ever appear on screen.

“I was lucky to work with him on Superman. His performances are legendary, and his talent will be greatly missed. Farewell, my dear Lex. Until we meet again.”

Hackman was married to Faye Maltese from 1956 until 1986, and they had three children: Christopher, Elizabeth Jean, and Leslie Anne.