Gene Hackman’s autopsy findings after being found ‘mummified’
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa showed no signs of ‘trauma’ during an autopsy.
The couple and their beloved German Shepherd dog were discovered at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, by two maintenance workers. Currently, there is an active investigation surrounding their death but there are no signs of any foul play. Betsy was found lying on their bathroom floor with an open bottle of prescription pills scattered across a countertop. Currently, it remains unclear what the pills were and if they had been prescribed to Betsy or Gene. Meanwhile, Gene was found in a mud room off their kitchen.
Betsy, 63, was found decomposing with bloating to her face and mummification on her hands and feed. Meanwhile, Gene was found in a similar state of decomposition. An autopsy has since been carried out which ruled out any external trauma to both the actor and his late wife.
A statement from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said: “In the early hours of Thursday, February 27 2025, Hackman and Arakawa were transported to the Office of the Medical Investigator. An autopsy was performed. Initial findings noted no external trauma to either individual.
Read updates on the tragic death of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa in the Mirror’s live blog HERE.
“Carbon monoxide and toxicology tests were requested for both individuals. 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.” New Mexico Gas Company tested gas lines in and around the home after the bodies were discovered, according to a search warrant, and while no signs of problems were found, a detective noted that people exposed to gas leaks or carbon monoxide may not show signs of poisoning.
Hours after the death of Gene and Betsy was announced, his daughters Elizabeth and Leslie, as well as his granddaughter Annie said he will be “sorely” missed and they have been left “devastated” by the news.
In a statement shared with the PA news agency, they said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy. He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”
Meanwhile, Leslie told MailOnline that there was “no indication” that there was anything wrong with Gene before his death. She said: “Despite his age, he was in very good physical condition,” before adding that her father did not have any major surgeries these last few months. “He liked to do Pilates and yoga, and he was continuing to do that several times a week. So he was in good health.”
Lesie added that because she lives in California, it had been a ‘few months’ since she had last seen or heard from her father, who had become reclusive in the latter years of his wife. Gene lived a quiet and private life with his wife Betsy, 64. “We were close. I hadn’t talked to them for a couple months, but everything was normal and everything was good,” Leslie shared.
Two maintenance workers, Roland Lowe Begay and Jesse Kesler discovered the bodies of Gene and Betsy at their home, having not seen the pair for weeks. A space heater was positioned close to Betsy’s head, and investigators are considering whether it may have fallen. Meanwhile, Hackman’s body was discovered in a mudroom near the kitchen, as detailed in a search warrant.
The Oscar-winning Superman actor was found fully dressed, with his sunglasses lying beside him – a detail that hints he may have collapsed unexpectedly. Emergency responders, including firefighters, were dispatched to the residence, but no evidence of a gas leak was detected.
According to Sheriff Adan Mendoza, the couple died around midnight on Thursday 27 February and told The Santa Fe New Mexican: “I want to assure the community and neighbourhood that there’s no immediate danger to anyone.” In a search warrant obtained by TMZ, the official who requested the search warrant has written that he believes “the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation”.
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