Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead more than a week after the late Hollywood star’s pacemaker stopped tracking his heart’s movements.
“An initial interrogation was conducted of Mr. Hackman’s pacemaker. This revealed that his last event was recorded on Feb. 17, 2025,” Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said during a press conference Friday. “I was advised that a more thorough investigation will be completed.”
The sheriff pointed out that the pathologist who shared the preliminary findings with him at 2 p.m. local time Friday said they believed Hackman’s last day of life was Feb. 17 based on the pacemaker data.
Mendoza also revealed that “both individuals tested negative for carbon monoxide.” However, an official cause of death has yet to be determined for Hackman and Arakawa.
The sheriff also noted that it’s unclear at this time whether Hackman or Arakawa died first as they are still working on piecing together the timeline.
Mendoza was joined by Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya who did not give any additional statements.
The latest update in the investigation comes after Hackman, 95, Arakawa, 64, and one of their three dogs were found dead inside their New Mexico home Wednesday at about 1:45 p.m. local time.
“An individual arrived to perform maintenance on the residence, became concerned after receiving no answer and contacted neighborhood security to conduct a welfare check,” read a Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office press release previously obtained by .
“Security then checked on the residence and observed Hackman and Arakawa on the ground unresponsive through a window and called 911.”
The front door was unlocked, per police; however, no foul play was suspected.
A sheriff’s office spokesperson told earlier Friday that there did not appear to have been any “criminal” activity, but nothing was “ruled out.” The deaths had also been…
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