She was found in a bathroom, while Hackman’s body was located in a room off the kitchen. The couple’s dog was also found dead in a closet about “10 to 15 feet” away from Arakawa.
Experts suggested that the dog may have starved, as it was confined in a crate. It was also confirmed that dogs cannot contract Hantavirus.
After initial reports surfaced, there was speculation that the couple might have died from a gas leak or carbon monoxide poisoning.
Tests conducted by the New Mexico Gas Co. found no evidence of such hazards.
Officials were quick to clarify that “foul play was not suspected,” though the circumstances surrounding their deaths were “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation.”
Gene Hackman and Wife Betsy Arakawa Found Dead in Santa Fe Home
911 Call Reveals Panic of First Responder
On February 27, Fox News released a distressing 911 call made by an unnamed maintenance worker who discovered the bodies. The worker was heard “frantically pleading” for emergency services to respond immediately.
