ALBAWABA - On Friday, investigators said Gene Hackman and his wife died nine days before their remains were located in their remote house outside Santa Fe, N.M. The cause of their deaths was unknown.
A pathologist examined Mr. Hackman's pacemaker and found that its last “event” was Feb. 17, indicating that he died then, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said in a press conference.
Mr. Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, found themselves dead in separate rooms of their gated community home on Wednesday. Hollywood, Santa Fe's cultural center, and film fans worldwide have been obsessed with the secretive couple's demise.
Since both bodies tested negative for carbon monoxide, Sheriff Mendoza stated Friday that the pair was unlikely to have perished from the gas.
An inventory of what authorities found in the mountain residence outside Santa Fe included typical medication, medical records, two telephones, and a 2025 planner.
Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
Sheriff Mendoza said they will analyze cellphone data—calls, texts, events, and photos—to create a timeline.
Sheriff: Mr. Hackman and Ms. Arakawa had no surveillance cameras inside or outside their home.
Their anonymity has made it challenging for investigators to ascertain what caused their deaths. The sheriff said police were trying to determine when and who last saw the pair.
Sheriff Mendoza stated there was no external harm or “foul play” in the initial findings.
A few reporters gathered Friday at the couple's gated enclave, Santa Fe Summit, just outside the city. A security guard sat at the entrance to a mountain-view winding road.
Several neighborhood homes have gates and security cameras. Aside from property maintenance workers, Mr. Hackman's home at the end of a cul-de-sac was quiet on Friday.
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO - FEBRUARY 28: Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza (Photo by Sam Wasson / Getty Images via AFP)
Sheriff Mendoza said toxicology results, which will determine how the couple died, might take three months or longer.
The cops found thyroid medication, Tylenol, and diltiazem, a treatment for high blood pressure and chest discomfort, at the property. Police have not recognized tablets found on a countertop near Ms. Arakawa's body.
The bodies of Mr. Hackman and Ms. Arakawa were found Wednesday in their homes' mudrooms and beside an open prescription bottle and strewn tablets in a bathroom. The couple discovered a dead German shepherd in a cupboard nearby. Two other dogs were found alive on the property; the sheriff said the county's animal control division worked with the family to keep them safe.
Drugs found in the residence treat common diseases. Calcium channel blocker diltiazem decreases blood pressure and helps irregular heart rhythms. Low thyroid hormone levels can induce fatigue, weight gain, and depression. Thyroid therapy treats this disease.
Dr. Garret FitzGerald, head of the University of Pennsylvania Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, said all of these medications might kill in big quantities.
New York Post
Tylenol, thyroid medications, and calcium channel blockers can cause liver failure, arrhythmia, and cardiogenic shock in excessive doses. However, Dr. FitzGerald noted that “all of these would be very rare causes of death and would require very high doses and likely some prior susceptibility of the individual.”
A back door was cracked open, possibly to let the dogs in and out, according to Santa Fe Fire Department Chief Brian Moya in an interview. He stated the fire department found no carbon monoxide or gas leaks in the home.
He said his department, which includes emergency medical services, had not responded to the couple's property in at least three years since becoming chief. He also didn't know of any previous cries for help.
“They were very private,” Chief Moya stated.
Former Santa Fe residents Mr. Hackman and Ms. Arakawa had become more reclusive, friends claimed.
