The discovery of Gene Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa, in a partially mummified state has raised new questions about the circumstances surrounding the couple's deaths. According to a police search warrant affidavit, Arakawa's body exhibited clear signs of decomposition, including bloating and mummification in her hands and feet, suggesting she had been dead for an extended period before being found.
Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 64, were discovered in their New Mexico home on February 26 by maintenance workers who had not seen them for nearly two weeks. Authorities believe their bodies may have remained undiscovered for several days, if not longer. The affidavit describes Hackman's body as showing similar decomposition patterns to his wife's, but the advanced state of Arakawa's condition has drawn particular attention.
Mummification occurs when a body undergoes dehydration, causing tissues to dry and shrink. According to the National Institutes of Health, natural mummification can happen in environments with low humidity, high temperatures, and good ventilation. The partial mummification observed in Arakawa-limited to her extremities-suggests she had been dead long enough for these conditions to take effect, though full mummification typically requires several months.
Authorities noted that Arakawa was found lying on her right side in the bathroom, with a black space heater nearby. A prescription pill bottle was open on the countertop with scattered pills around it, though investigators have not confirmed whether medication played a role in the deaths. The couple's German Shepherd was also discovered dead in a closet near the bathroom, while their two other dogs were found alive.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office has called the deaths "suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation." Initial concerns about carbon monoxide poisoning were dismissed after the fire department and New Mexico Gas Company found no evidence of a gas leak or ventilation issue in the home.
Maintenance workers who discovered the bodies told police they found the front door ajar, though there were no clear signs of forced entry. Hackman was found fully clothed in a separate room near the kitchen, with his glasses thrown from his body, leading investigators to speculate he may have collapsed suddenly.
Experts say that the level of decomposition in Arakawa's body indicates she may have died before Hackman.
The couple, known for their private lifestyle, had been married for 34 years. Hackman, a two-time Oscar winner famed for roles in The French Connection and Unforgiven, retired from acting in the early 2000s and had since lived a secluded life in New Mexico.
