An emotional 911 call from a maintenance worker who found the bodies of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, has been made public. The worker, who remains unnamed, can be heard crying and repeatedly saying “damn” as he describes seeing Arakawa’s body “not moving” through a window of their New Mexico home. He urgently requested the 911 operator to “send someone up here real quick,” noting that the house was locked.
Hackman, 95, Arakawa, 65, and one of their pet dogs were discovered deceased on Wednesday during a welfare check conducted by police. Two other healthy dogs were also present on the property. The actor’s body was located in a mudroom, while Arakawa was found in a bathroom next to a heater.
Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza informed NBC that the couple may have been deceased for “a couple of weeks.” Investigators noted the presence of scattered pills and an open prescription bottle on a countertop near Arakawa, which they deemed “very important evidence.” Other medications found in the home raised concerns, leading authorities to classify the couple’s deaths as “suspicious enough” to warrant a thorough investigation.
There were no indications of gunshot wounds or other injuries, and police reported that one door to the property was ajar while others were unlocked, with no signs of forced entry. Preliminary medical findings indicated that the couple suffered “no external trauma.” Official post-mortem examinations and toxicology reports are still pending, and the cause and manner of death have yet to be determined.
Hackman’s daughter previously suggested the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning, but the exact cause of death remains uncertain. The local utility company has conducted tests on gas lines in and around the property.