Nearly a week after the tragic discovery of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, a neighbor has shared insight into how rarely he saw the late Hollywood icon. The deaths of the legendary actor and his wife have left many questions unanswered, as authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding their passing.
On Wednesday, February 26, news broke that Hackman and Arakawa had been found deceased in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home. The entertainment industry was left in shock, mourning the loss of the two-time Academy Award-winning actor, whose career spanned decades. Initial reports indicated that no foul play was suspected, but as more details emerged, authorities deemed the situation suspicious enough to warrant a deeper investigation.
Reports from law enforcement revealed that Hackman, 95, was discovered in the mudroom of his home in a state of partial mummification, while Arakawa was found in a bathroom, next to a bottle of pills. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza later described the presence of the pills as a “significant” piece of evidence in the case.
In an interview with TMZ, Hackman’s daughter, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, expressed uncertainty about what could have caused her parents’ deaths. One theory the family considered was carbon monoxide poisoning, a silent killer that can strike without warning.
“The house is fairly modern, built in 2000,” Elizabeth explained. “But we don’t know if there were any issues with gas leaks or if there were any recent service calls to the property.”
Despite the concerns, investigations by the Santa Fe City Fire Department and the New Mexico Gas Company found no evidence of a carbon monoxide leak or gas-related poisoning in the home. This revelation only deepened the mystery surrounding the deaths, as authorities worked to determine what had transpired.
Sheriff Mendoza provided another key detail in the timeline of events when he revealed that Hackman’s pacemaker had recorded its final heartbeat on February 17. Given this information, authorities believe that the acclaimed actor likely passed away on that date, nine days before his body was found.
As speculation continues to swirl regarding what exactly happened, Hackman’s neighbors have begun to speak out, shedding light on how infrequently they saw the actor and his wife in the years leading up to their deaths. Living in a private, gated community approximately five miles from Santa Fe, the couple appe ared to have maintained a highly reclusive lifestyle.
James Everett, a part-time resident who lived next door to Hackman and Arakawa for around five years, described how their paths rarely crossed.
“They have a gate, and we have a gate, and we just have never even seen each other,” Everett told The New York Times.
Another neighbor, Bud Hamilton, who lived in the other house adjacent to Hackman’s property for approximately 20 years, recalled only sharing a meal with Hackman and Arakawa once during that time.
