Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, were found dead at their N.M. home on Feb. 26
Photo:DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
New Mexico authorities reiterated Thursday afternoon that there appears to be no sign of foul play in the deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, though what caused their deaths remains a mystery.
Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, were each found dead in separate rooms of their Santa Fe home on Wednesday, Feb. 26. A German Shepherd they owned was also found deceased, while two other dogs were discovered alive and healthy on the property.
In a news release on Thursday, Feb. 27, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza repeated that there were no apparent signs of foul play at the scene, but nonetheless called the circumstances of the deaths unusual.
Arakawas body was discovered in a bathroom near an open bottle of pills with capsules scattered about, a sheriffs deputy wrote in an affidavit for a search warrant reviewed by PEOPLE. The German Shepherd was found in a closet about 10 to 15 feet away.
Hackman was found in another room in sweatpants and a blue T-shirt, with a cane and a pair of sunglasses adjacent to him.
Both bodies displayed similar obvious signs of death, including mummification and bloating, suggesting they may have been dead for some time. Maintenance workers who first phoned 911 told deputies they hadnt seen Hackman and Arakawa in approximately two weeks.
Making matters more mysterious, the local Fire Department and gas company found no immediate indication there was a gas leak or possible monoxide poisoning or leak, per the affidavit.
Hackman and Arakawas bodies were taken to the Office of the Medical Investigator in Santa Fe, where an autopsy was performed; investigators report there were no signs of external trauma after the initial probe, but no cause of death has been determined.
Full carbon monoxide and toxicology tests have been ordered for the pair, though results could take weeks to arrive.
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Sheriff Mendoza noted that animal control had worked with family members to ensure the safety of the two living dogs.
Hackman, who won two Academy Awards, married classical pianist Arakawa in 1991. He had three children with his first wife, Faye Maltese.
Known for his roles in films like The French Connection, The Conversation and Unforgiven, Hackman quipped to GQ in 2011 that he would like to be remembered as a decent actor.
