Carbon monoxide was ruled out as the cause of death of gene hackman and his wife

Carbon monoxide was ruled out as the cause of death of Oscar-winning actor Jean Hackman and his wife, Santa Fe Arakawa of Betsy Arakawa.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said at a press conference Friday that carbon monoxide poisoning has been ruled out, but the exact cause of the couple’s death remains unknown.

“The initial tests by medical inspectors showed no signs of carbon monoxide,” Mendoza said of the odorless gases that are often produced by kitchen equipment and other fuel-burning items. Collecting in poorly ventilated homes can be fatal.

No gas leaks have been found inside or around the house.

Mendoza noted there were no signs of a foul play on the scene.

The bodies of 95-year-old Hackman and 65-year-old Arakawa were found Wednesday, but investigators believe the death occurred a few days ago.

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Mendoza also said a closer look at Hackman’s pacemaker suggested that it stopped functioning on February 17th, suggesting that the actor may have died before the body was found.

However, health professionals warn that they will draw decisive conclusions from this information alone.

“If your mind needs a pacemaker, there’s certainly a disruption at that point, and that could be a trait when death occurs,” said Dr. Philip Keene, retired Chief Medical Examination Officer in Maricopa County, Arizona. “But that’s not necessarily because you get a pacemaker to enhance things and don’t necessarily replace things.”

Investigators said Hackman’s body was found at the entrance and Arakawa’s body was in the bathroom. A space heater was found near Arakawa’s head. Investigators believe she may have fallen when she collapsed. An open prescription containing scattered pills was also found at a nearby countertop.

Toxicology Results

Authorities are awaiting the results of toxicology to see if drugs and other substances play a role in the deaths, and are expected to take weeks to complete the test results.

Mendoza said the couple’s reputation for privacy complicates the investigation.

Since then, detectives have started examining the couple’s mobile phones and monthly planners, contacting their families, neighbors and community workers to establish a time when Hackman and Arakawa were last seen and contacted.

Court records filed Friday show that investigators recovered a variety of medications from their homes, including over-the-counter painkillers and medical records, as well as treatment for hypertension, chest pain and thyroid problems.

Security was warned as the body was found after maintenance workers were unable to enter the locked home during regular visits. The security worker then called 911 after seeing the bodies of the two on the ground through the window.

Hackman, a well-known actor with a decades-long career, retired from the film industry in the early 2000s. He and a classically trained pianist, Arakawa, have lived in the Pueblo Revival home in the gated community overlooking the hills of Rocky Mountain since the late 1980s.

Hackman, known for his versatility, won five Oscar nominations throughout his career, winning Best Actor in 1972 for “French Connection” and in 1992 for “Relentless” Best Actor.

Hackman served on the Georgia O’Keefe Museum’s board of directors from 1997 to 2004, but eventually retreated from public life.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.