Santa Fe comes to grip with Gene Hackman and wife's deaths as residents say ‘none of it matches up’

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO: The sudden deaths of Hollywood icon Gene Hackman and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, have left local residents in shock and searching for answers to what happened inside the couple’s home.

Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, had called Santa Fe home for decades and their deaths have left residents struggling to comprehend since they say "none of it matches up," as per The Guardian.

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa deaths: A mystery that doesn’t add up

Their bodies were discovered on February 26 after a maintenance worker, unable to reach them, alerted neighborhood security.

Looking through a window, security personnel spotted their lifeless forms and called the police. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza revealed eerie details about the deaths.

Firstly, Hackman was found near an entryway, his cane beside him, while Arakawa was in a bathroom with an open prescription bottle and scattered pills on a nearby countertop.

Another unsettling detail - one of their three dogs was also found dead in a bathroom closet. Two other dogs, still alive, had access to a pet door.

“They had been dead for ‘quite a while’ before they were found,” Mendoza said, adding that there were no signs of foul play.

“There was no indication of a struggle. There was no indication of anything that was missing from the home or disturbed … you know, that would be an indication that there was a crime that had occurred.”

The sheriff also confirmed that carbon monoxide poisoning had been ruled out and there were no visible injuries on their bodies. The last recorded activity on Hackman’s pacemaker was on February 17, suggesting that may have been his final day.

However, the true cause of death remains unknown, pending toxicology and autopsy results that could take months.

Santa Fe city in mourning after Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's deaths

As Santa Fe processes the tragedy, conversations keep circling back to the same question: What really happened?

“Everyone is shocked. None of it matches up,” said Barbara Simpson, an antique shop owner. “There’s still a lot that has to come out in the investigation.”

Hackman and Arakawa weren’t just passing through; they had built lives here. Reportedly, Hackman once owned a business near Simpson’s shop.

He painted a mural in a local restaurant and served on the board of trustees at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum for nearly a decade, helping shape its early years.

“People in Santa Fe liked them a lot. They were really involved,” Simpson said.

At the state capitol, New Mexico lawmakers held a moment of silence, recognizing Hackman’s contributions to their community. “We were lucky to call him a New Mexican,” one legislator remarked.

Gene Hackman: Remembering a gentle presence

Despite his Hollywood fame, Hackman was known in Santa Fe simply as a kind, unassuming neighbor.

“Everybody is really sad – we hold on to our community here,” said Nedret Gurler, a longtime Santa Fe resident, as per reports.

“There’s so much sadness in our world, and [this] felt like another bright light dimmed. There’s something wrong about it. We all want answers," she said.

“He was the kindest man. He would smile at everyone,” Gurler said. “Everyone I’ve talked to since yesterday is genuinely sad.”

For years, the couple could be seen strolling through downtown, visiting the library, or enjoying local restaurants.

Residents have started sharing their memories online, reminiscing about their quiet interactions with the couple.

One man recalled how he helped Hackman find books at the library - only for the actor to later invite him to dinner with Arakawa.

Now, as Santa Fe waits for answers, there’s a collective hope that the truth will bring peace to both the town and the family.

“Something is missing,” Gurler said. “I hope we get closure, but I’m hoping [their] family get closure even if we don’t.”