Investigators at the home of actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, found dead this week, discovered various medications and a 2025 planner. Police recovered thyroid medication, Tylenol, and diltiazem, a heart medication, though it’s unclear if these relate to the scattered pills near Arakawa’s body. Their deaths remain under investigation, with toxicology results anticipated in months. Reports indicated they had been deceased for days or weeks, and a deceased dog was also found. Friends noted the couple had become reclusive, with their last communication just two weeks prior. Sheriff Mendoza emphasized the unusual circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Authorities investigating the remote residence where actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were tragically discovered deceased this week uncovered an assortment of routine medications, medical documentation, and a planner for 2025, as indicated by a report made public on Friday.
The report, which detailed the findings from a search warrant, revealed that law enforcement recovered thyroid medication, Tylenol, and diltiazem — a drug commonly prescribed for high blood pressure or angina — from the home located outside Santa Fe, N.M., where the couple was found lifeless on Wednesday.
It remains unclear if the medications listed were those that investigators noted were strewn around Ms. Arakawa’s body. The search warrant report, endorsed by a detective from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, did not provide any information about the contents of the monthly planner.
The report indicated that officers also discovered records from MyQuest, a digital medical portal where patients can check their test results and schedule appointments with doctors. In addition, officers retrieved two green cellphones.
It may take months before definitive answers are available regarding the couple’s cause of death. The mysterious circumstances surrounding their passing have sent shockwaves through Hollywood, as well as the culturally rich community of Santa Fe and film enthusiasts worldwide.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza appeared on the “Today” show on Friday, stating that it could take three months or more to receive toxicology results, which might shed light on what led to their deaths.
Mr. Hackman, aged 95, was found deceased in the mudroom of his residence, while Ms. Arakawa, 65, was located in a bathroom adjacent to an open prescription bottle and scattered pills. One of their dogs, a German shepherd, was discovered deceased in a nearby closet, whereas two other dogs were found alive on the property.
Sheriff Mendoza indicated that both Mr. Hackman and Ms. Arakawa may have been dead for “several days, possibly even up to a couple of weeks,” given the state of their bodies.
The medications found at the residence are used to manage common health issues. Diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker, is utilized to lower blood pressure and can assist with irregular heart rhythms, while thyroid medicine addresses low thyroid hormone levels, which can result in fatigue, weight gain, depression, and various other symptoms.
Dr. Garret FitzGerald, director of the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, noted that all these medications could potentially be lethal in excessive amounts.
He elaborated that in extremely high doses, Tylenol could result in liver failure, thyroid medications could cause arrhythmias, and calcium channel blockers could lead to cardiogenic shock. However, Dr. FitzGerald emphasized that “these would be very rare causes of death and would necessitate very high doses coupled with some pre-existing susceptibility of the individual.”
On Friday, a small group of reporters gathered outside the neighborhood where the couple resided. Their gated community, Santa Fe Summit, is located just beyond the city limits, and a security guard was stationed at the entrance, which is positioned along a winding road offering mountain views.
A law enforcement affidavit released on Thursday indicated that following the discovery of the bodies, testing conducted by the local fire department established that there were no signs of a carbon monoxide or gas leak, though it’s possible that any fumes could have dissipated since the couple’s passing.
Chief Brian Moya of the Santa Fe Fire Department mentioned in an interview that a door at the back of the house was ajar, potentially to allow the dogs to come and go.
He stated that his department, which includes emergency medical services, had not responded to the couple’s residence for at least three years since he assumed the role of chief. He also mentioned that he was unaware of any calls for assistance prior to that time.
“They were very private individuals,” Chief Moya remarked.
Once vibrant members of the Santa Fe community, Mr. Hackman and Ms. Arakawa had become increasingly reclusive in recent years, according to their friends.
“We are working to piece together a timeline of when the deceased were last seen or heard from,” Sheriff Mendoza shared on the “Today” show.
Two maintenance workers visited the couple’s home on Wednesday and noticed them unresponsive through a window before they contacted 911. The workers informed law enforcement that their last interaction with the couple occurred approximately two weeks prior.
On January 31, a day after Mr. Hackman’s 95th birthday, Ms. Arakawa sent an email to a friend, Lesley Allin, expressing gratitude for the birthday wishes and treats that had been sent to their New Mexico home.
“Time just flies,” Ms. Arakawa mentioned in the email, “so we must all enjoy ourselves while we can.”
Gina Kolata contributed reporting.