Hackman, a two-time Academy Award-winning actor known for his unforgettable performances in The French Connection, Unforgiven, and The Royal Tenenbaums, was discovered deceased in his Santa Fe, New Mexico home on February 26, 2025. Alongside him, his wife, Arakawa, and one of their pet dogs were also found dead. While early reports suggested no signs of foul play, law enforcement officials have since reconsidered their stance, now describing the case as “suspicious.”

Authorities arrived at the couple’s gated Southwestern-style ranch at approximately 1:45 p.m. after neighborhood security discovered the grim scene. The home’s front door was found ajar, which immediately raised concerns for law enforcement. Initially, Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated that “foul play is not suspected,” but later clarified in a press conference that while there were no immediate signs of a break-in or violence, the circumstances warranted further scrutiny. The sheriff’s office quickly filed for a search warrant, stating in their application that the nature of the deaths was “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation.”

The details uncovered by authorities have only added to the mystery. Hackman’s body was found in a mudroom, with a cane and sunglasses on the floor nearby, suggesting he may have collapsed suddenly. Arakawa was discovered in a bathroom, positioned near an open prescription bottle that had spilled its contents onto the counter. Investigators noted that both appeared to have passed away some time ago, and their bodies had begun showing signs of decomposition. The official affidavit revealed that Arakawa displayed visible bloating on her face and mummification of her hands and feet, raising questions about how long they had been deceased before being found.

Adding to the unusual nature of the discovery, the couple’s German Shepherd was found dead inside a closet in the bathroom, approximately 10 to 15 feet away from Arakawa. However, two other dogs were found alive, one near Arakawa’s body and the other outside the home. Investigators did not observe any signs of forced entry, struggle, or blunt force trauma, ruling out an immediate break-in scenario. The absence of a gas leak also eliminated early speculation of carbon monoxide poisoning, a theory initially proposed by Hackman’s daughter, Leslie.