Gene Hackman’s Wife Had No Contact With Mother for Months Before Couple Found Dead

Betsy Arakawa’s elderly mother, Yoshie Feaster, had not heard from her daughter since October 2024.

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa attend the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Jan. 19, 2003. Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

Betsy Arakawa, the wife of actor Gene Hackman, had reportedly not been in touch with her mother, Yoshie Feaster, for several months before she and Hackman were found deceased in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on Feb. 26.

Feaster, 91, who lives in Hawaii, typically received calls from her daughter monthly. However, Arakawa’s absence had become concerning, according to Feaster’s longtime housekeeper Keiko.

“Betsy hadn’t called her mother in months,” Keiko told the Daily Mail. “She usually called every one or two months. Last time she called was October. We were thinking, ‘what happened?’”

Authorities estimate that Hackman, 95, died on Feb. 17, based on the failure of his pacemaker. Arakawa, 65, is believed to have died around the same time. The couple’s remains were found in their home alongside their deceased German shepherd.

Feaster, who suffers from dementia, was notified of her daughter’s death by New Mexico police, but her chronic condition has prevented her from retaining the news, according to Keiko.

“She talked to a New Mexico policeman the other day. But she has dementia so she forgot already. I feel so sorry for her,” Keiko said. “She was very upset. But right now, she’s kind of normal.”

Investigators are still working to determine the cause of death. Early concerns about carbon monoxide poisoning were ruled out after authorities found no evidence of a gas leak in the residence.

Sheriff Adan Mendoza of Santa Fe County stated in an interview with NBC’s Today Show that toxicology and autopsy reports will be crucial in clarifying the circumstances of their deaths.

“There’s no indication that anybody was moving about the house or doing anything different, so it’s very hard to determine if they both passed at the same time or how close they passed together,” Mendoza said.

Investigators are also attempting to figure out the last time anyone saw or spoke to them, Mendoza added.

“It’s very difficult to put a timeline together even with the help of the office of the medical investigator,” he said, adding that Hackman and Arakawa were “very private individuals and a private family.”

Longtime friends and neighbors in Santa Fe described Hackman and Arakawa as inseparable. Daniel and Barbara Lenihan, along with their son Aaron, said they were stunned by the news of the couple’s passing, according to People. “He was getting quite old,” said Barbara, 75, noting that Hackman had just turned 95 on Jan. 30. “We were trying to prepare ourselves for Gene’s demise. We are just stunned.”

Aaron Lenihan, 38, recalled their close relationship. “They were one of the tightest couples I’ve seen,” he said, adding that they were both incredibly kind and generous. Hackman taught him about painting, while Arakawa, a classical pianist, performed for friends during gatherings.

“They seemed like real life partners, really, really close to each other, and they were both incredibly kind,” Aaron Lenihan added. “They were always doing stuff for other people.”

Hackman, a two-time Academy Award-winning actor known for “The French Connection” and “Unforgiven,” was found in a mudroom near the kitchen, with his sunglasses and cane nearby. His wife was located in a bathroom. An open bottle of pills was found near Arakawa, though the role of pills in their deaths remains unclear.

The Arakawa family has expressed their condolences to Hackman’s relatives but has remained private about the situation.

“The family over here doesn’t want to make any comments right now. They’re going through grief,” Chris Fitzhenry, a family representative in Hawaii, told The Daily Mail. “Of course, we give our condolences to Gene’s children and his family. But this is a very private moment.”