The gas company finds 'tiny' leak, but not classified as fatal

An investigation into Gene Hackman's house in Santa Fe by a local gas company resulted in a “tiny” leak on one of the stove burners, but it is not assumed that it has a contribution to the death of the Oscar winner and his wife Betsy Arakawa.

After the couple's bodies were discovered last week, early speculation focused on the theory that they may have died due to a gas leak. Hackman's daughter Elizabeth Jean suggested that they could have been killed by “toxic vapors”.

According to the Santa Fe Sheriff department, the New Mexico Gas Company has confirmed that it carried out a comprehensive examination of gas leaks and carbon monoxide “and” no significant findings “.

The gas company said they published five “red tags”.

“A red label was on one of the oven burners for a tiny leak (0.33% gas – no fatal amount),” says the press release.

“The other four red tags were violations of the enforcement of code, which are not involved with gas leaks or carbon monoxide, in a hot water pioneer and gas block tank, which are installed in three fireplaces.”

The Sheriff's department now believes that it is likely that the couple died over a week before the body found.

“A first survey was carried out by Mr. Hackman's pacemaker. This showed that his last event was recorded on February 17, 2025,” said Adan Mendoza, Sheriff of Santa Fe County, at a press conference on March 1.

“I was informed that a more thorough investigation will be completed,” he added, but “according to the pathologist, I think that this is a very good assumption that this was his last day of life.”

The authorities still investigate what caused the couple's death.

There were “no obvious signs of foul,” said the sheriff.

An autopsy noticed “no external trauma for one of the two individuals”, but the type and cause of their death have not yet been determined, said Mendoza. Both Hackman and Arakawa tested negatively for carbon monoxide poisoning.

After a search order, the authorities searched the house and found two mobile phones, two bottles of medication and a bottle of Tylenol. The sheriff said that he could not say who prescribed the medication based on laws for privacy data protection relationships or what it was for. Toxicology and other autopsy findings are still outstanding.

Mendoza said it was “difficult to determine” whether the two died at the same time.

“There is no indication that someone moved through the house or did something else. So it is very difficult to determine whether they both passed at the same time or how close he went together,” added the sheriff.

“We try to put together this information,” he added. “I think the autopsy report will be the key for this investigator.”