Authorities have shared an update on what happened to Gene Hackman’s dogs. The legendary actor and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their home last Wednesday, and their bodies had already started decomposing.
They had three dogs. One of them, a German Shepherd, was found lifeless just a few feet from Betsy’s body. The other two? Somehow, they survived.
RELATED STORIES
One dog didn’t make it, but two did
When investigators got to the scene, they found one of the couple’s dogs dead inside the house. The other two were still alive — one was inside, the other was found outside the home.
Gene’s family is making sure the dogs are safe
Santa Fe County Animal Control is now working with Gene’s family to take care of the two surviving dogs. Right now, they’re making sure the animals are safe and figuring out what happens next.
No signs of a break-in or carbon monoxide poisoning
According to investigators, there was no sign that someone forced their way into the house. They also ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning as a cause of death.
A worker found the front door open
A maintenance worker showed up at the house and noticed the front door was open. That’s when authorities were called.
Gene and Betsy were found in different rooms
Gene and Betsy weren’t in the same place when they were found. Betsy’s body was in the bathroom. A space heater was nearby, and an open bottle of pills was on the counter, with pills scattered around.
Investigators think she might have fallen suddenly, possibly knocking over the heater.
Gene was in the mudroom, and deputies believe he also may have collapsed.
Investigators are looking into the pills they found
Deputies collected all the medications they found in the home. Sheriff Adan Mendoza called them “very important evidence.”
It’s still unclear if they played a role in what happened.
No foul play, but something feels off
Authorities didn’t see any obvious signs of foul play, but they’re not ruling anything out yet. The official investigation is still ongoing, and there are still a lot of unanswered questions.
Gene’s daughter says he was in good health
Gene’s daughter, Leslie, told the Daily Mail that despite being 95, her father was in great shape. “He liked to do Pilates and yoga, and he was continuing to do that several times a week. So he was in good health.”
She hadn’t spoken to him in months
Leslie also shared that she and her father were close, though they hadn’t spoken in a few months. She lives in California, so she wasn’t around to see him regularly. “I hadn’t talked to them for a couple of months, but everything was normal and everything was good.”
Betsy took great care of Gene
Leslie had nothing but praise for Betsy, saying she was the reason her dad lived as long as he did. “I give credit to his wife, Betsy, for keeping him alive. [She] was always looking out for his health.”
The couple lived in a beautiful home in Santa Fe
Gene and Betsy’s home was in Santa Fe, New Mexico, just north of the city. It was featured in Architectural Digest in 1990 and had stunning views of the Colorado mountains. They had lived there for decades.
The investigation is still ongoing.
Last Updated on March 2, 2025 by Reem Haqqi
