Early Autopsy Results Offer Key Clues Into Gene Hackman Death Mystery
Preliminary autopsy results were released by authorities in Santa Fe Thursday as part of an investigation into the 'unusual' deaths of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa.
In a statement on Thursday afternoon, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office in New Mexico said an autopsy was performed on the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 64, early Thursday morning. According to an affidavit obtained by People, Arakawa 'showed obvious signs of death, body decomposition, bloating in her face and mummification in both hands and feet.'
Hackman showed similar signs of decomposition, the report added.
Though Hackman's daughter, Elizabeth Jean, earlier told TMZ that the family suspected that carbon monoxide poisoning was to blame, authorities did not point to immediate signs of such poisoning or external trauma.
'Initial findings noted no external trauma to either individual,' Sheriff Adan Mendoza said in a statement, adding that carbon monoxide and toxicology tests were requested for both individuals.
Mendoza added: 'There were no apparent signs of foul play.'
However, he stressed, 'The manner and cause of death has not been determined. The official results of the autopsy and toxicology reports are pending. This remains an open investigation.'
Meanwhile, CNN affiliate KOAT reports foul play has not been ruled out, adding final autopsy results and toxicology reports will hold the answer. Citing the search warrant, KOAT reports deputies believe, based on evidence and experience, the couple suddenly fell.
'The autopsy is going to be key, and the toxicology,' Mendoza said during a Thursday news conference.
Results 'generally take anywhere from 4-6 weeks to generate,' Chris Ramirez, spokesperson for the New Mexico medical investigator's office, told CNN.
Santa Fe, NM (February 27, 2025): On Wednesday February 26, 2025, at approximately 1:45 p.m., Santa Fe County Sheriff's...
Posted by Santa Fe County Sheriff on Thursday, February 27, 2025
Santa Fe City Fire personnel and the New Mexico Gas Company were earlier requested to test the scene for carbon monoxide and other foreign elements, the statement said. The scene was deemed safe, according to cops, and 'at approximately 9:30 p.m. a search warrant was issued and executed on the residence.'
According to an affidavit from a Santa Fe detective obtained by People, the Santa Fe City Fire Department did not see signs of a carbon monoxide leak or poisoning.
'New Mexico Gas Company responded to the residence and was conducting active testing on the gas line in and around the residence,' the affidavit reportedly said. 'As of now there are no signs or evidence indicating there were any problems associated to the pipes in and around the residence.'
The couple and one of their dogs were found dead in their New Mexico mansion on Wednesday after a neighbor requested a welfare check.
An emergency 911 call by a local caretaker captured the horrifying call to authorities when the bodies were found. 'They're not moving—just send somebody out here really quick!' the subdivision caretaker said in the 911 call.
Police earlier said that the deaths were 'suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation,' noting that the front door was left ajar, the couple's bodies were found in separate rooms, and an open pill bottle was discovered with pills strewn all over the floor.
'Despite his age, he was in very good physical condition,' Leslie Anne Hackman, another of the actor's daughters, told The Daily Mail on Thursday.
'We were close. I hadn't talked to them for a couple months, but everything was normal and everything was good,' she said.
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