Officials investigating the deaths of legendary actor Jean Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa say they eliminated carbon monoxide poisoning as the cause.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office addressed the media Friday afternoon to the latest information on the investigation.
The pair were found Wednesday at their home near Santa Fe, along with their family dog. Two other dogs were alive on the scene.
Authorities say the couple had died for a while before the bodies were found by maintenance workers.
Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday that the local medical inspector’s office had eliminated carbon monoxide poisoning as the cause of the death. The sheriff also revealed that Hackman had a pacemaker that recorded his “last event” on February 17th, almost a week before the body was found.
Santa Fe Film Commissioner Jennifer Laver Tapia will address the media regarding the death of actor Jean Hackman at a press conference on February 28, 2025 (AP)
He continued, saying it was too early to determine whether Hackman or Arakawa died first.
The investigation also includes tablets that have been recovered at the site and evaluated by a local medical examination room. Mobile phones and other electronic devices, as well as the 2025 planner, were also recovered at the scene. This is analyzed as part of the case to determine the timeline of the event.
The sheriff pointed out that there was no known surveillance video that could help with the investigation as the couple is known to have assessed their privacy.
Hackman, 95, was found at the entrance, and Arakawa, 65, was found lying on the right side of the bathroom. According to an affidavit released Thursday, the space heater was next to her head and could have fallen when she suddenly fell on the floor.
The death was not initially considered suspicious, but after a search warrant was provided at home, authorities returned the statement and said they had assured a serious investigation.
Nevertheless, Mendoza said earlier this week that there is no threat to the larger community.
In June 1993, his wife Betsie Arakawa and actor Jean Hackman.
Hackman was the five-time Oscar nominee who won Best Actor in the lead role in “French Connection” in 1972 and was the five-time Oscar nominee to win Best Actor in the supporting role in “Relentless” and “Relentless” 20 years later. Arakawa was a classically trained pianist who grew up in Hawaii.
Santa Fe Film Commissioner Jennifer Lover Tapia said Hackman’s “talent is for generations to come,” and that his “legacy and film are unparalleled across decades of memorable performances.”
An investigation into the unusual circumstances surrounding death is ongoing, and authorities have pledged to release more information as it becomes available.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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