### Forensic Expert Offers Chilling Theory on Gene Hackman and Wife’s Tragic Deaths
After the shocking discovery of Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa, and one of their dogs dead in their Santa Fe home, speculation ran wild about what could have led to their mysterious passing. Now, a leading forensic expert has put forward a heartbreaking theory—suggesting their deaths may have been the result of a tragic accident.
On February 26, Hollywood was left reeling from the news that legendary actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, were found deceased in their residence. Their beloved German Shepherd was also found dead, while two other dogs in the home survived.
### Unsettling Details from the Scene
The search warrant application revealed intriguing details about how authorities discovered their bodies, further deepening the mystery.
Upon entering the home, officers immediately noticed an open bathroom door near the front entrance. Inside, Arakawa was found lying on the floor with a **black space heater near her head**, and an open prescription bottle with scattered pills nearby.
The body of the couple’s German Shepherd was located about **10-15 feet away in a bathroom closet**.
Elsewhere in the house, *Unforgiven* star Hackman was discovered collapsed in what appeared to be a mudroom, with **a cane and sunglasses nearby**. Both Hackman and Arakawa showed signs of decomposition, suggesting they had died suddenly and had been undiscovered for several days.
### Theories Ruled Out
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed that the couple had been deceased for **quite some time**, revealing that Hackman’s **pacemaker recorded its last heartbeat on February 17**.
Despite the strange circumstances, investigators ruled out some common explanations. Neither Hackman nor Arakawa had **visible injuries**, and no signs of forced entry were found, eliminating the possibility of a break-in.
The **Santa Fe City Fire Department also ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning**, finding no traces of the deadly gas in the home.
### A Devastating Chain of Events
Dr. Michael Baden, a former chief medical examiner for New York City, recently spoke with Fox News and proposed a tragic series of events that may explain the couple’s deaths.
Hackman, who had a history of **heart disease and high blood pressure**, likely suffered **a fatal heart attack** in the mudroom.
“The pacemaker keeps track of the pulse, and when it drops too low, it discharges. That’s all recorded,” Baden explained. “So the autopsy showed he had **severe coronary artery disease**, the most common cause of death in this country.”
As for Arakawa, Baden believes she was still alive when Hackman collapsed—and may have been **rushing to get his blood pressure medication from the bathroom** when she **slipped, hit her head, and suffered a fatal injury**.
See Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa’s last public sighting 1 year before couple was found dead in home https://t.co/pIUODpOfgI pic.twitter.com/ZO26CGmp1g
— Page Six (@PageSix) February 27, 2025
“She may have struck her head on the way down, causing internal bleeding that wasn’t immediately visible,” Baden suggested. “Or, given her age, the stress of the moment could have triggered her own heart failure.”
Supporting this theory, investigators found pills scattered near Arakawa’s body—indicating she had located the medication but never made it back to Hackman in time.
### The Trapped Dog
Adding to the tragedy, one of the couple’s three dogs was found deceased **inside a bathroom closet**, while the two others—alive and in good condition—were discovered elsewhere on the property.
Initially, investigators suspected the dog had died from the same cause as its owners. However, after ruling out carbon monoxide poisoning, Baden theorized that the **dog was accidentally trapped in the closet or kennel and likely died from dehydration** over the **nine-day period** between Hackman’s last heartbeat and the discovery of their bodies.
### A Heartbreaking Accident
If Baden’s theory holds, the deaths of Hackman, Arakawa, and their dog were the result of **a devastating sequence of misfortunes** rather than foul play.
What are your thoughts on this tragic turn of events? Share your opinions and let others weigh in on this heartbreaking case.