Police seize items of evidence at Gene Hackman, wife’s home as investigation continues

Authorities seized three types of medications and electronics from the A$6.1 million-dollar New Mexico home where Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead.

Authorities seized three types of medications and electronics from the $US3.8 million (A$6.1 million-dollar) New Mexico home where Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead.

Police confiscated two green mobile phones and multiple medicines — including Tylenol, a thyroid medication and Diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker used to treat high blood pressure or chest pain.

They also took a 2025 monthly planner and MyQuest records, a medical diagnostics service, according to the return and inventory section of the search warrant.

Although the French Connection actor, 95, and Arakawa, 63, did not show any external trauma, authorities deemed their deaths “suspicious” enough to warrant a full investigation. However, foul play is not suspected.

Actor Gene Hackman with wife Betsy Arakawa at the United Celebral Palsy of New York City's 15th annual Champagne Stakes at Etoile restaurant on E. 56th St. Picture: Getty

Maintenance workers found the couple, who wed in 1991, dead in their home.

While Hackman’s body was discovered near the kitchen, his wife was found lying on the bathroom floor with prescription pills scattered around the countertop.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza told Today the spilled medication is “very important evidence” as they try to piece together the timeline of events.

“We’re looking at that specifically and other medications that were possibly in the residence,” he said Saturday. “So that is something of concern.”

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza (right) speaks during a press conference at the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office to provide an update on the investigation into the deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa.

Authorities will also review phone data, phone calls, texts, photos and more.

Hackman was dead at least nine days before maintenance workers found the two-time Oscar winner, his wife and one of their dogs inside their sprawling home, police said.

The last “event” recorded on The French Connection star’s pacemaker was February 17.

“According to the pathologist, I think it’s a good assumption that was his last day of life,” Sante Fe County Sheriff Mendoza told reporters, explaining the date helps authorities build a timeline to determine what led to the couple’s tragic end.

The house owned by actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa in Santa Fe. Picture: AP

At this time, police don’t know who died first as autopsies to determine the case of their deaths are underway.

Hackman, who last appeared in the 2004 film Welcome to Mooseport, retired after his doctor advised him his heart “wasn’t in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress,” he told a UK movie magazine in 2009.

The maintenance workers in the couple’s gated community hadn’t seen them in about two weeks — and were alarmed when there was no answer when they came to do work at the home.

Police investigating Hackman and his wife’s death have also made a major U-turn on the leading cause of death theory.

Gene Hackman and daughter Elizabeth Hackman on Rodeo Drive in 1979 in Beverly Hills, California, United States. Picture: Getty

It was initially feared that the couple may have died due to carbon monoxide poisoning, but after police first rejected the theory, they cannot rule it out.

Santa Fe’s fire chief Brian Moya refused to rule out carbon monoxide poisoning yet.

Authorities tested the gas lines in and around the home and said there were no signs of a gas-related issue, according to an official warrant.

Speaking to the Today Show, the fire chief agreed any poisonous gas could have potentially dissipated by the time their bodies were discovered.

The carbon monoxide theory was first raised by the legendary actor’s daughter Elizabeth Jean Hackman.

She told TMZ that the family strongly believes the couple may have had carbon monoxide poisoning from toxic fumes.

Actor Gene Hackman in scene from film Behind Enemy Lines.

Meanwhile, officials have warned that any official update on the cause of Hackman’s tragic death may still take a painfully long time to emerge.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Mendoza admitted that it could take months to reveal the actual cause of death.

He said that the toxicology report – which would be key to determine the cause of death – could take up to three months or even more.

Chris Ramirez, spokesman for the New Mexico medical investigator’s office said confirmation from the medical examiner’s office could still take anywhere between four to six weeks.

Police also aren’t entirely ruling out foul play, even with little evidence to support it. They say the toxicology report — which could take up to three months — will be key in determining the causes of their deaths and guiding their investigation.

Investigators said they did not find a suicide note and there were no blatant signs of trauma to their bodies.

Originally published as Police seize items of evidence at Gene Hackman, wife’s home as investigation continues