Gas Company Issues Statement After Extensive Investigation at Gene Hackman’s Home

According to the latest update from the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office and the City of Santa Fe Fire Department, the New Mexico Gas Company concluded its inspection at the Hackman-Arakawa residence located at 1425 Old Sunset Trail.

The company formally shared its findings with investigators on March 3, 2025. The inspection, conducted in late February, involved a comprehensive check for both gas leaks and carbon monoxide within the home.

While no life-threatening hazards were detected, inspectors did flag five red tags—one of which involved a minor gas leak at a stove burner, registering 0.33 percent gas in the air. This level has been deemed non-lethal by industry standards.

The remaining violations were related to compliance issues tied to the property's water heater and gas log lighters installed in the home's fireplaces.

Despite these findings, authorities have clarified that none of the issues identified are currently believed to have played a direct role in the deaths of Hackman, Arakawa, or their dog.

Even so, the results have been formally passed to the Office of the Medical Investigator, ensuring they are reviewed as part of the broader cause-of-death analysis.

Following the official update from authorities, netizens flooded online forums with reactions, expressing skepticism and unease over the findings. Many were quick to highlight that even the slightest trace of gas should not be dismissed when investigating such an unexpected tragedy.

One commenter insisted, “A tiny leak is enough to kill.” Echoing that fear, another netizen declared, “A minuscule leak is still a leak discharging poisonous deadly gas. And continuously will fill the entire house 😱.”

Others found the situation unsettling from the very beginning, with one remarking, “I find this so crazy. Had to be gas or carbon monoxide or something. The dog dead [sic] as well. 😢 Just seems so bizarre.” “A leak is a leak,” stated a fellow netizen.

Another simply expressed their shock at the situation. There was also confusion stemming from earlier reports, with one person pointing out that officials had supposedly initially stated there was no gas leak detected at all.

Amid the swirl of speculation and evolving updates, Hackman's daughter, Elizabeth Jean, has also weighed in on what could have led to the heartbreaking deaths of her father, Arakawa, and their beloved dog.

Speaking to TMZ in February, she shared that while the family remains uncertain about the exact cause, they suspect toxic fumes may have been involved.

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 conduct a welfare check at the residence on February 26 (a Wednesday), they were joined by the fire department and gas company personnel.

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 shared by the gas company, and online reactions to the information follow initial reports about Gene Hackman and Arakawa's deaths.

The couple, along with one of their dogs, were found deceased under mysterious circumstances on February 26, 2025, in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home. Hackman was 95; Arakawa was 65.

Hackman had lived in Santa Fe since the 1980s. He married Arakawa in 1991, and the two lived a private life in their secluded home. Before their bodies were found, deputies had arrived at their residence on Old Sunset Trail after receiving an unspecified report. It remains unclear whether it was a welfare check or a response to a call.

It was during this time that the cops discovered their lifeless bodies. As authorities pieced together a timeline, one detail stood out—Hackman's pacemaker had stopped functioning on February 17. They suggested that the actor may have been dead for nine days before being discovered.

“I think that is a very good assumption that that was his last day of life,” Mendoza told reporters at a press conference on Friday, February 28.

But that was just one piece of the puzzle. Hackman and Arakawa were found in different parts of the house. Arakawa's body lay in the bathroom, near a space heater. An open bottle of pills was beside her.

The search warrant affidavit noted signs of mummification, suggesting she had been dead for some time. Hackman, found elsewhere, showed similar signs. However, two other dogs were discovered alive inside the home.

The biggest question still remains: Who passed away first? On the matter, Sheriff Mendoza admitted it 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 have 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 immediate call 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 reflected on Hackman's legacy, saying, “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.