Posted on 02/27/2025 9:50:19 AM PST by Morgana
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found partially-mummified at the couple's $3.3 million mansion, with pills strewn in their bathroom.
An arrest warrant obtained by DailyMail.com revealed Arakawa, 64, was found decomposed with bloating on her face and mummification in her hands and feet.
Sheriffs said Hackman was found to have the same signs of decomposition as his wife.
Mummification occurs when a person's skin and tissues are preserved after their death. While most associate it with ancient Egyptians wrapping the corpses of pharaohs in bandages, it can also be achieved if a body is left in a place with cold, dry air where bacteria struggles to grow. Santa Fe is known to enjoy such a climate during winter.
Two maintenance workers called Roland Lowe Begay and Jesse Kesler discovered the bodies of Arakawa and her retired Hollywood star husband at their luxurious million Santa Fe mansion Wednesday at 1:46pm Mountain Time.
The identities of Hackman and Arakawa were not released for nearly 12 hours, with details of how the couple were found now offering a possible explanation for the delay.
Begay and Kesler told investigators they hadn't seen them for two weeks. Both appear to have been dead for some time.
Arakawa was discovered lying on the bathroom floor of the couple's home on her right side, with an open prescription bottle of pills scattered across a nearby countertop. No indication has been given as to what the pills were and whether they had been prescribed to Hackman or his wife.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
What a sad ending to a great actor.
I know he made a lot of great movies, but Hoosiers was my all-time favorite.
Everyone was great including Sheb Wooley and Barbara Hersey.
I’m betting Col. Mustard in the Library with a candlestick.
...or DOGE.
Me too. I remember Victor Mature & Yul Brenner films. Others as well.
I have much more vivid memories Sophia Loren, Rachael Welsh, and Audrey Hepburn movies.
It sounds like he died, she couldn’t live without him and forgot about the dog.
Very sad.
The obvious guess.
Or it could be relationship trouble and one decided to OD the other and then oneself.
All wild speculation.
95 is a ripe old age.
61 for her isn’t.
He made some great films.
That was my thought too since he was found in the mud room and she was in the bathroom with pill strewn around.
Let me ask another question before I leave ....
Was there a puddle of water? If so, there may have been a giant block of ice that had something to do with it - can’t rule anything out at this point.
OR, they were murdered. Obviously, there wasn’t much of a father/kids relationship, at least one of them would have called in the two weeks to say, hi. Hackman was ninety five, possibly had a terminal illness. Eighty million dollars inheritance going to his wife could be a motive. Staged pills in the bathroom, dog shut into closet, his body found in a utility room, his sunglasses on the floor.
Greta Garbo never said she wanted to be alone, she only said she wanted to be left alone--from the gossip columnists, scandal mongers, and others that constantly stalked her.
Talk about making up something out of whole cloth.
Hoosiers is a great favorite of mine too. Dennis Hopper was also great in his role, and the non-actor basketball players did quite well too. Of course, Gene Hackman was the heart of the movie. I hope the explanation for their death does not add to the tragedy.
Wonder who’s in the will?
Just a possible theory, not swearing by it
Think Gibbs and Abby should be on this case.
OK, watch his children. He has children from first wife. If the second wife died, they get the money. If not the children do. There are three children over 60 and they have children too. If Genes wife did not outlive Gene the will changes.
Did Hackman outlast the Pasadena Playhouse?
That supposition depends on the wording and whatever is bequeathed in his Will, if he had one.
Just one more thing...
Hoffman moved out, got a new roommate, another friend in the business. His name was Robert Duvall.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.