The individual, who disclosed they’re the caretaker of the subdivision where the couple lived, was unable to identify Hackman and Arakawa’s ages or genders to police.
In the filing, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office Detective Roy Arndt says the couple were found in different rooms in their sprawling Santa Fe home, where the two-time Oscar winner, 95, retreated to for a lowkey life after leaving Hollywood.
Authorities found the actor was in a mudroom near his cane, appearing to have fallen, while wife Arakawa, 64, was found in an open bathroom near a space heater, according to the warrant.
An open prescription bottle and pills were scattered on the nearby countertop, the warrant says. A deputy observed Arakawa with “body decomposition, bloating in her face” and mummification of her hands and feet.The pair were found around 1:45 p.m. Wednesday by two maintenance workers. Both men told police they rarely saw the couple when conducting maintenance on the home and “primarily communicated with the female homeowner (Arakawa).”
One of the couple’s German shepherds was also found dead less than 15 feet from Arakawa in a closet, while their other two dogs were found alive in the bathroom near Arakawa and outside.According to investigators, the scene was “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation” after several things were found at the scene, including the front door open and unlocked, a healthy dog “running loose on the property,” another “healthy dog” found near Arakawa and the dead dog and moved heater found near the actor’s wife.
They also cited an open pill bottle and scattered prescription pills next to Arakawa as well as no obvious signs of a gas leak and Hackman being in a different room than his wife. They did say they don’t suspect foul play.
