The 95-year-old actor’s Santa Fe home became the focus of a grim investigation when he and his wife, 65-year-old Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in February 2025. The 53-acre property, listed at $6.25 million, sold just 11 days after it hit the market.
At a Glance
- Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa were discovered dead on February 26, 2025.
- The Santa Fe estate, 53 acres, sold for $6.25 million after 11 days on the market.
- The couple’s deaths were caused by hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and heart disease with advanced Alzheimer’s.
The Tragic Discovery
On February 26, 2025, a search warrant affidavit revealed that Hackman was found in the mudroom and Arakawa in the bathroom, both in advanced states of decomposition. The discovery was made by local authorities during a routine inspection.
The affidavit noted that personal effects had been removed and the home professionally staged prior to the listing. A small, private memorial was later held for the couple in April in Santa Fe.
The investigation also uncovered that one of their three dogs was found dead at the estate, adding to the tragic scene.
Property Sale and Listing
The estate was officially listed on January 16, 2025 by Tara S. Earley and Ricky Allen of Sotheby’s International Realty. The listing price matched the property’s fair market value, according to the agents.
“There will be some buyers that are just averse to purchasing a property where a death has occurred,” Earley told the Wall Street Journal at the time of the listing. “There are other buyers for whom that doesn’t matter. We are selling the property on its virtues and all of the positives.”
By January 27, 2025, the house was listed as pending. The buyer was identified 11 days after the listing, showing that the market responded quickly despite the circumstances.
Property Features
- Main house and guest house, each with three bedrooms.
- Lap pool, pagoda-covered hot tub, and putting green.
- Artist’s studio, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a cozy library.
- Extensive woodland surrounding the 53-acre estate.
The main house’s library was where the couple spent movie nights, and the floor-to-ceiling windows let in natural light throughout the day.
The guest house, designed for visitors, also featured three bedrooms and a small kitchen.
Outdoor amenities included a lap pool, a hot tub covered with a pagoda roof, a putting green, and an artist’s studio that served as a creative space.
Cause of Death and Timeline
Arakawa’s death was traced to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a flu-like illness linked to rodent droppings, saliva, and urine. She died days before Hackman; her last outward communication was an email sent on February 11, 2025.
Hackman died of severe heart disease, high blood pressure, and advanced Alzheimer’s disease. His pacemaker last showed activity on February 17, 2025.
A week after the discovery, an autopsy established the timeline, confirming the sequence of events and the causes of death.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 16, 2025 | Estate listed for sale at $6.25 million |
| January 27, 2025 | Listing pending, buyer identified |
| February 11, 2025 | Arakawa’s last email sent |
| February 17, 2025 | Hackman’s pacemaker last activity |
| February 26, 2025 | Bodies discovered in advanced decomposition |
Memorial and Legacy
A small, private memorial was held in April for Hackman and Arakawa in Santa Fe. The ceremony was attended by close friends and family, reflecting the couple’s quiet life in the city.
Hackman had lived in Santa Fe since the 1990s. In 1990, he told Architectural Digest that the city “had a kind of magic in it” after filming movies there, highlighting his deep connection to the community.
Key Takeaways
- The estate sold quickly after listing, demonstrating resilience in the market despite a tragic discovery.
- The couple’s deaths were linked to distinct medical conditions, confirmed by a detailed autopsy.
- Hackman’s long-standing residence in Santa Fe underscores his personal ties to the area.
