Authorities believe that the actor may not have been aware that his wife was no longer there in the last days of his life.
The estate of two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is on the market for $6.25 million, a year after he and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead there, reports the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
According to real estate agents Tara Erley and Ricky Allen of Sotheby’s International Realty, the couple had lived in the estate for several decades. They purchased the property in the 1990s, and a main residence with three bedrooms was built there in 1997.
The gated estate, covering about 13,000 square feet (approximately 1,200 m2), also includes a mini-golf course, a three-bedroom guest house, an art studio, a swimming pool, and a hot tub in a pagoda-style gazebo.
Unlike many characteristic adobe-style homes in the region built with stone and clay, the Hackman and Arakawa mansion has a more modern appearance.
The main house features panoramic windows and is constructed with natural stone, steel, and glass. It includes a spacious living room with wooden beams on the ceiling, a library, and a dining room located on a glass-enclosed porch. According to Erley, Hackman watched movies specifically in the library — the ceiling was specially designed for improved sound insulation.
The house has been tidied up and fully prepared for sale. However, agents say the property may deter potential buyers due to the tragic history of its former owners.
"Although celebrity properties usually sell for more, in this case, we valued the house based on what we considered a fair market value <…>. There are buyers who are fundamentally not ready to purchase property where someone has died. But there are also those for whom it does not matter. We are selling this property with an emphasis on its merits and all its positive aspects," Erley said.
Agents are concerned about an influx of people wanting to view the property purely out of curiosity, so potential buyers will be checked for proof of funds before showings.
As previously reported by RTVI.US, in February of last year, 95-year-old Gene Hackman, his 65-year-old wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa, and their dog were found dead in their home in Santa Fe. No signs of foul play were found on the bodies, nor were there any gas leaks in the house.
The medical examiners determined that Arakawa died from hantavirus, which is primarily carried by rodents. Pills were found scattered near her body, which were not related to the illness. They had been prescribed to the woman for maintaining thyroid health.
Hackman died from cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease a week after his wife’s death. Hackman’s body lay in the house for at least 9 days. Arakawa’s body showed signs of decomposition, including the mummification of her hands and feet.
Authorities believe that the actor may not have been aware that his wife was no longer there in the last days of his life. The dog, found dead alongside the couple in their home, likely died from dehydration and starvation.
Subsequently, the police released footage from the house. Some rooms were completely cluttered. Clothes, shoes, medications, and other items were chaotically strewn throughout the house. Dead and live rodents, their nests, and feces were also found on the property.
Hackman is known for his roles in films such as "The French Connection," "Unforgiven," "The Conversation," and "Superman." He has won the Academy Award twice — for Best Actor in "The French Connection" directed by William Friedkin (The French Connection, 1971) and for Best Supporting Actor in Clint Eastwood’s "Unforgiven" (Unforgiven, 1992).
Since the 1960s, the actor has appeared in roles of villains, heroes, and anti-heroes in dozens of dramas, comedies, and action films until his departure from the film industry in the early 2000s.
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