Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, tested negative for carbon monoxide poisoning, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department confirmed.
Toxicology report said this about Gene Hackman’s cause of death
Their deaths remain under investigation as officials await further toxicology results.
Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated in a news conference that Hackman’s pacemaker recorded its last activity on February 17, nine days before their bodies were found.
“According to the pathologist, I think that is a very good assumption that that was his last day of life,” Mendoza said.
Authorities continue to examine possible causes of death, as no immediate signs of trauma, forced entry, or burglary were observed at the scene.
A prescription bottle and scattered pills were found near Arakawa’s body, along with a portable heater that appeared to have been knocked over.
What investigators know so far
Hackman, 95, was found near the kitchen, while Arakawa, 65, was discovered in a bathroom. Their German Shepherd was also found deceased in a closet. The couple’s remains showed signs of decomposition, indicating they had been deceased for an extended period before authorities arrived.
Investigators are reviewing cellphone records, call logs, and other digital data to reconstruct the timeline leading up to their deaths. Mendoza noted that detectives are working in reverse to piece together the events, saying, “Usually, we build a timeline before an event happens. In this case, we are working backwards.”
The toxicology report is expected to provide further insight into the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Authorities have not ruled out other medical conditions, environmental factors, or substance-related causes.
Hackman, a two-time Academy Award-winning actor known for The French Connection and Unforgiven, had largely withdrawn from public life following his retirement from acting in 2004.
He and Arakawa had been married since 1991 and lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Investigators continue to analyse evidence, with final autopsy results expected in the coming weeks.
