STORY UPDATED: check for updates below.

Death Details

Hollywood star Gene Hackman and his wife were found dead in their New Mexico home on February 27, 2025, and people are alleging that it was an "double suicide." Here is what we know: Oscar-winner Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog were all found in different locations in their home and had apparently been dead for some time. A search warrant affidavit said their deaths were "suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation." The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said there was no indication that any of them had been shot or had other types of wounds.

The claim appeared in a post (archived here) where it was published on X on February 27, 2025. It opened:

Hollywood Star Gene Hackman & his Wife found dead after alleged 'Double Suicide'.

Was Mr Hackman on the list?

This is what the post looked like on X at the time of writing:

(Source: X.com screenshot take on February 27, 2025 at 17:24:11 UTC)

Here is what Lead Stories knows so far. This post will be updated as events unfold.

According to ABC News (archived here), the bodies were found when a neighbor called and the sheriffs did a welfare check, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office said. Their deaths were "suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation," due to the "circumstances surrounding," the home, according to a search warrant affidavit.

The Associated Press reported (archived here) about the conditions in which they were found:

Hackman, 95, was found dead Wednesday in a mudroom and his 63-year-old wife, Betsy Arakawa, was found dead in a bathroom next to a space heater, Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office detectives wrote in a search warrant. There was an open prescription bottle and pills scattered on a countertop near Arakawa.

The AP also reported the New Mexico Gas Co. was working with the sheriff's department on the investigation.

Santa Fe Sheriff's Department spokesperson Denise Avila gave a statement to Lead Stories via email on February 27, 2025, about the situation:

On February 26, 2025, at approximately 1:45 pm, Santa Fe County Deputies were dispatched to an address where Gene Hackman, age 95, and wife Besty Arakawa ,64, and dog were found deceased. The bodies of Mr. Hackman and his wife were located in separate rooms of the residence. Foul play is not currently suspected as a factor in those deaths. Cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner.

According to the search warrant affidavit (archived here), investigators detailed why they found the circumstances of the deaths suspicious:

At this time; the manner and cause of death pertaining to Eugene "Gene" Allen Hackman and Betsy Arakawa passing is unknown. Affiant believes that the circumstances surrounding the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation because the reporting party found the front door of the residence 6 unsecured and opened, deputies observed a healthy dog running loose on the property, another healthy dog near the deceased female, a deceased dog laying 10-15 feet from the deceased female in a closet of the bathroom, the heater being moved, the pill bottle being opened and pills scattered next to the female, the male decedent being located in a separate room of the residence, and no obvious signs of a gas leak.

It noted the condition of Arakawa's body when she was found:

Deputy Thomas advised he observed a black in color space heater near the female's head. He advised he suspected the heater could have fallen in the event the female abruptly fell to the ground. He advised he also observed an orange prescription bottle on the counter-top near the deceased female. The prescription bottle appeared opened with pills scattered on the counter-top. Deputy Thomas advised the female decedent showed obvious signs of death, body decomposition, bloating in her face and mumification in both hands and feet.

And the condition of Hackman's body when he was found:

Deputy Thomas identified a male (to be deceased) in an area of the home he believed to be a mud-room. The deceased male who was found wearing gray sweat pants, a blue in color long-sleeve t-shirt, brown slippers, and walking-cane. Deputy Thomas indicated he observed a pair of sunglasses located near the decedent's left of his body. Based on Deputy Thomas' training and experience he suspected the male individual has suddenly fallen. Deputy Thomas advised the male decedent also showed obvious signs of death, similar and consistent with the female decedent.

The search warrant affidavit also stated that the New Mexico Gas Company was conducting active testing on the gas line in and around the residence, and stated, "As of now, there are no signs or evidence indicating there were any problems associated to the pipes in and around the residence."

Lead Stories is investigating the rumors surrounding the death of Hackman and his wife and will update the story as information is received.

Victims

Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and one of their dogs. Law enforcement has said there were no signs of gun shots or other wound.

Related fact checks

This section will be updated with relevant fact checks as we look into rumors and claims currently making the rounds.