The entertainment industry was shocked to its core last Wednesday (February 26) as Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead at their residence in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Though initial reports claimed that no foul play was suspected in their deaths, there have been several updates since then, including one that suggests that circumstances were suspicious enough to warrant an investigation.
As per reports, Hackman, 95, was found in a mudroom, partially mummified, while Arakawa’s body was discovered in the bathroom, beside pills that Santa Fe sheriff Adan Mendoza described as a “significant” piece of evidence.
In light of the tragedy, Hackman’s daughter, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, shared in an interview with TMZ that the family wasn’t entirely sure what led to the deaths, but that they suspected carbon monoxide poisoning could be to blame.
“The house is fairly modern, built in 2000,” Elizabeth explained, “but we don’t know if there were any issues with gas leaks or if there were any recent service calls to the property.”
As part of the subsequent investigation into the deaths, Santa Fe City Fire department have seemingly ruled out carbon monoxide leak or poisoning as they found no signs present at the home.
It’s reported that the New Mexico Gas Company also found no signs of this after carrying out tests on the gas line and around the residence.
What exactly occurred is a question that requires further investigation, but there’s been no shortage of speculation and rumor regarding the case. Hackman was a two-time Oscar winner who had featured in over 70 movies, remember, and the sudden nature of he and his wife’s passing has naturally become global news.
Sheriff Mendoza said on Friday, February 28, that Hackman’s pacemaker recorded its final heartbeat on February 17, making it ‘a very good assumption’ that it was the last day of his life.
Now, approximately one week on from the discovery of the bodies, neighbors of Hackman and Arakawa have shed light on just how much they saw them.
Speaking with the New York Times, members of the private community – which lies five miles from Sante Fe – said they barely saw the couple.
“They have a gate, and we have a gate, and we just have never even seen each other,” said James Everett, who lived part-time in a house next door for around five years.
Another neighbor, Bud Hamilton, lived in the other house next door for around 20 years. He told how he’d had dinner with Hackman and Akarawa just once during that time.
Harvey Chalker, a longtime resident of the area, said he met Hackman once.
“He wanted to be quiet, he didn’t want to be bothered, and I don’t blame him,” Chalker said.
