Gene Hackman death: Sheriff says timeline may be a 'challenge' as investigation continues
The death of actor Gene Hackman remains under investigation after he was found Wednesday at his home in New Mexico.
The actor, his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa, along with a dog, were found dead by neighborhood security officials. Authorities found the couple around 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, according to a statement from the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office.
Hackman had largely retreated from the spotlight, but had "deeply woven" himself into his New Mexico community, Jennifer LaBar-Tapia, Executive Director of the Santa Fe Film Office, said at a Friday press conference.
"Gene was not only a legendary actor whose talent shaped generations of storytelling, but he and Betsy were also longtime residents of our community," LaBar-Tapia said.
Here's what we know about the death of Gene Hackman.
Hackman's pacemaker revealed that "his last event was recorded on Feb. 17, 2025," Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said during a press conference.
Mendoza said it was "a very good assumption" to conclude that was Hackman's "last day of life," more than a week before he was found.
Mendoza told the "Today" show Friday that he's "pretty confident that there's no foul play" involved, though police are "not ruling that out."
Hackman and Arakawa tested negative for carbon monoxide, Mendoza said during the press conference.
Authorities found the actor in a mudroom near his cane, appearing to have fallen, while his wife Arakawa was found in an open bathroom near a space heater, according to a search warrant.
A deputy observed "body decomposition, bloating in her face" and mummification in Arakawa's hands and feet, according to the warrant.
One of the couple's German shepherds was found dead less than 15 feet from Arakawa in a closet, while their other two dogs were found alive in the bathroom near Arakawa and outside.
Mendoza told "Today" that there was no "indication that anybody was moving about the house or doing anything different, so it's very hard to determine" if the couple died at different times or together.
Authorities called the deaths "suspicious."
Mendoza told "Today" that it would be a "challenge" crafting a timeline of their deaths, as Hackman and Arakawa were "private individuals and a private family."
"One of the things is in an investigation, we try to piece a timeline together," Mendoza said they usually work from when "the event" happens and go forward but said that investigators plan to also work "backwards" on the Hackman case.
Two cell phones were among the items found in a search of the Hackman home. Mendoza said that investigators would attempt to access the phones to gain insight into the last days of the couple.
"We'll be analyzing cell phone data, phone calls, text messages, events, photos in the cell phone to try to piece a timeline together," Mendoza said Friday.
Contributing: Anika Reed
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gene Hackman death: Sheriff says timeline may be a 'challenge'
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