Prescription pills found near Gene Hackman's wife is 'very important evidence,' says sheriff
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO: A prescription pill bottle found near the body of Gene Hackman’s wife Betsy Arakawa is a key part of the investigation into their deaths, according to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza.
The medication, which was left open with pills scattered near her body, was first mentioned in an affidavit for a search warrant.
Sheriff Adan Mendoza says medication found near Betsy Arakawa's body is 'very important evidence'
In a Friday, February 28, interview with 'Today' show's Savannah Guthrie, Adan Mendoza was asked about the significance of the prescription and whether it might be linked to the deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa.
"That’s obviously very important evidence at the scene," said Mendoza regarding the medication found near Arakawa's body.
"That information was collected, that information was passed to the office of the medical investigator to help them make a determination," Mendoza said on the show.
"So we’re looking at that specifically and other medications that were possibly in the residence. So that is something of concern," Mendoza added, as per People.
When asked about the timeline for a toxicology report, Mendoza noted, "Based on my experience, a toxicology report could take some time, it could take up to three months or even possibly longer."
He added, "It just depends how busy the laboratory is. But we’re hoping it comes sooner than later so we can answer some of these questions and hopefully it’ll help us in our investigation to help determine the manner and cause of death."
Details from search warrant affidavit by Detective Roy Arndt
Detective Roy Arndt wrote in the search warrant affidavit that Betsy Arakawa was found lying on the bathroom floor with a space heater near her head.
The deputy, who discovered her, suspected that the heater could have fallen with Arakawa, according to the filing.
An open orange prescription bottle with pills scattered nearby was found on the countertop, the affidavit stated.
Arakawa’s body showed signs of decomposition as well as “mummification in both hands and feet,” according to the affidavit.
A deceased dog was found near her in a closet while two other dogs were discovered alive on the property.
Hackman’s body was found in the mudroom and showed signs of death "similar and consistent" with his wife’s body.
Deputy describes how Gene Hackman was found
A pair of sunglasses was found on the left side of Gene Hackman’s body, according to the affidavit. One of the deputies on the scene noted that it appeared he had “suddenly fallen.”
Authorities were alerted to the scene after a maintenance worker visited the home on Wednesday afternoon, February 26, to perform work and grew concerned when no one answered the door, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
The worker then asked local security officers to conduct a welfare check. Upon seeing unresponsive bodies through the window, they called 911.
In the affidavit seeking the search warrant, detective Roy Arndt wrote that he believed "the circumstances surrounding the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation."
“This remains an open investigation,” the sheriff’s office has said.
