On February 26, 2025, Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found deceased in their Santa Fe, New Mexico. The couple, along with one of their dogs, were discovered by maintenance workers who noticed the front door ajar.
Both bodies showed signs of decomposition, indicating they had been deceased for some time, but partial mummification of Arakawa’s hands and feet, suggests that natural mummification processes had begun — maybe not terribly unusual in desert environments, but curious given the other signs of decomposition.
As the investigation continues, authorities are exploring all possibilities to uncover the cause of this unexpected tragedy. The scientific community remains attentive, as understanding the factors contributing to such incidents can provide valuable insights into both forensic science and the natural processes affecting human remains.
We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.
