Gas Company Releases Findings After Investigation at Gene Hackman’s Home
Gas Company Issues Statement After Extensive Investigation at Gene Hackman’s Home
The recent information released by the gas company in charge of looking into carbon monoxide and gas leaks at Gene Hackman’s house has sparked discussion among netizens.
Updates on the ongoing investigation into the deaths of actor Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa, and their family dog have been released by the City of Santa Fe Fire Department and the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the most recent information, the Hackman-Arakawa residence at 1425 Old Sunset Trail was the site of the New Mexico Gas Company’s examination.
On March 3, 2025, the business formally informed investigators of their findings. The inspection, which took place in late February, included a thorough examination of the house for carbon monoxide and gas leaks.
Inspectors found five red tags, including one involving a small gas leak at a stove burner that registered 0.33 percent gas in the air, but no life-threatening risks were found. By industry standards, this amount has been determined to be non-lethal.
The remaining infractions included compliance issues with gas log lighters put in the home’s fireplaces and the water heater on the property.
Authorities have stated that none of the problems found are thought to have been directly responsible for Hackman, Arakawa, or their dog’s deaths, notwithstanding these discoveries.
Nevertheless, the findings have been officially forwarded to the Office of the Medical Investigator, guaranteeing their examination as a component of the more comprehensive cause-of-death investigation.
Netizens expressed skepticism and uneasiness over the findings in a flurry of reactions on online forums after authorities released their most recent official update. Many quickly emphasized that while looking into such an unforeseen disaster, even the smallest hint of gas should not be disregarded.
According to one commenter, “A tiny leak is enough to kill.” “A tiny leak is still a leak releasing toxic, lethal gas,” said another netizen, echoing that concern. And would flood the entire house 😱 constantly.”
The circumstance was upsetting to others right away; one person said, “I find this so crazy.” It has to be something like carbon monoxide or gas. Additionally, the dog is dead. 😢 It just seems so strange. “A leak is a leak,” said another internet user.
Another only conveyed their astonishment at the circumstances. Confusion also resulted from previous accounts; one individual brought up the fact that officials had allegedly first claimed that no gas leak had been found at all.
In the midst of the flurry of rumors and changing information, Elizabeth Jean, Hackman’s daughter, has also offered her thoughts on what might have caused her father, Arakawa, and their cherished dog to pass away.
The family is still unsure of the precise cause, but they believe hazardous fumes may have had a role, she told TMZ in February.
Hackman’s daughter further explained that law enforcement has found no evidence of foul play so far. However, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza noted that investigators have not officially ruled anything out and are keeping all possibilities on the table as the inquiry moves forward.
Adding to the mystery, the Hackman-Arakawa residence, built in 2000, is considered a relatively modern home. This leaves lingering questions about whether there were any prior issues with gas leaks or service calls to the property before the tragedy occurred.
What is known is that when deputies arrived to do a welfare check at the property on February 26 (a Wednesday), they were joined by the fire department and gas company officials.
This was a precaution taken to rule out immediate threats such as toxic fumes that could have put first responders at risk during the search.
TMZ’s report, the update supplied by the gas company, and internet reactions to the information follow early reports concerning Gene Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths.
The couple, together with one of their pets, were found killed under strange circumstances on February 26, 2025, at their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home. Hackman was 95; Arakawa was 65.
Since the 1980s, Hackman has resided in Santa Fe. He married Arakawa in 1991, and the two led a peaceful life in their secluded home. Deputies had received an unidentified report and had reached their home on Old Sunset Trail before their bodies were discovered. Whether it was a welfare check or a call response is still unknown.
The police officers found their dead bodies during this period. One particular stood out as investigators put together a timeline: Hackman’s pacemaker had stopped working on February 17. Before being found, they speculated that the actor might have been dead for nine days.
“I think that is a very good assumption that that was his last day of life,” Mendoza said during a press conference on Friday, February 28.
However, that was only a single component. Arakawa and Hackman were discovered in separate areas of the house. The body of Arakawa was found next to a space heater in the restroom. Beside her was an open pill bottle.
According to the search warrant affidavit, she had been dead for a while because of signs of mummification. Hackman, who was located elsewhere, displayed comparable symptoms. But inside the house, two more dogs were found alive.
Who died first is still the most important question. Sheriff Mendoza acknowledged that the situation was “a very hard thing to determine.” Without clear answers, theories began to swirl.
Initially, Hackman’s family had suspected it was carbon monoxide poisoning. It seemed a plausible explanation for their sudden and simultaneous deaths. However, authorities had ruled that out. Toxicology tests showed no signs of the compound in their systems.
Despite the unusual circumstances, there were no signs of forced entry, violence, or struggle. As questions surrounding the couple’s deaths persist, a leading forensic pathologist has offered one possible explanation.
Dr. Michael Baden, former chief medical examiner of New York City, suggested that Hackman’s death may have been the result of cardiac arrest—an event possibly recorded by his pacemaker.
Speaking on “Fox Report,” Baden explained that the device, which last logged activity on February 17, may hold critical insights. “That event would have been a cardiac arrest caused by an abnormal pulse rate,” he said.
He also noted that pacemakers track pulse rates and discharge when they drop too low, leaving behind a detailed record.
In addition to ruling out carbon monoxide, the autopsy confirmed there were no external injuries. Baden pointed to another common factor—heart disease.
“The most common cause of death in this country,” he said, referring to severe coronary artery disease and high blood pressure. He theorized that Hackman may have suffered a fatal cardiac event, collapsing in the mudroom where he was later found.
Dr. Baden also offered a possible explanation for Arakawa’s death, suggesting she may have been trying to help her husband in his final moments. He theorized that upon discovering Hackman unresponsive, she might have rushed to retrieve his blood pressure medication from the bathroom.
According to a search warrant affidavit, authorities found bottles of thyroid medication, blood pressure pills, and Tylenol in the bathroom.
The doctor speculated that in her haste, Arakawa may have suffered a fatal accident. “She may have struck her head on the way down and had some internal injury to the brain that doesn’t show up on the outside,” he explained.
Another possibility, Baden noted, was an undiagnosed heart condition. At 65, Arakawa may have had severe heart disease, and the shock of the moment could have triggered a fatal cardiac event. However, he emphasized that a head injury seemed more likely. “I think the first, that striking her head would be more common,” he explained.
Authorities believe Hackman may have collapsed unexpectedly. A search warrant affidavit detailed the discovery of his body. He was fully clothed, lying near a pair of sunglasses and a walking cane. Investigators noted these details suggested he had “suddenly fallen.”
The situation inside the home grew even more complex with the discovery of the couple’s German Shepherd. The affidavit stated that the dog was found deceased in a closet inside the bathroom, roughly 10 to 15 feet from Arakawa. Meanwhile, two other dogs were found alive—one near Arakawa’s body and another outside the residence.
Dr. Baden initially found the dog’s death puzzling, especially since it had been free inside the home. “And that’s why I think that the carbon monoxide [theory] was a very good thought with them breathing in the same air,” he said.
However, investigators later revealed that the German Shepherd had likely died from dehydration after being confined in a kennel for nine days.
Dr. Baden also pointed out that the couple’s secluded lifestyle may have played a role in the delay of an emergency response. With no one else around, there was no quick appeal for help. “That may have been the reason that 911 wasn’t called, for example, while his wife was trying to get him some medication and fell,” he explained.
The tragic nature of their passing was further amplified by Hackman’s legacy. “The circumstances and who he was—he was beloved by so many—are what make it so unusual,” Baden said.
Hackman’s death marks the end of an era. The two-time Academy Award winner, best known for his roles in “The French Connection” and “Unforgiven,” built a career that spanned decades. His performances left an indelible mark on Hollywood, ensuring his legacy will endure for generations.
News of Hackman and his wife’s deaths has sparked an outpouring of emotions online, with many struggling to process the shocking loss. Social media has been flooded with tributes and speculation as fans try to make sense of the tragedy.
“Heartbreaking,” one person wrote, capturing the sentiment of many. Another pondered on Hackman’s legacy, writing, “So sad! Glad he had a long, productive life, though.”
Others, however, couldn’t shake the lingering mystery. “Lots of unanswered questions,” a third person noted, echoing the very thoughts investigators are working to resolve.
