Gene Hackman and his wife's deaths 'could be a similar timeframe': fire chief
=============================================================================

Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya says Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa and their dog were found in the 'same building' on their three-structure property.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 , 



Published March 5, 2025 8:16pm EST

     



Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya told Fox News Digital that based on the "similar manner" of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's bodies, it's possible that they died in a "similar timeframe."

**SAN FRANCISCO, CA – March 5, 2025** - Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya is sharing his opinion about when  and Betsy Arakawa died on Feb. 26.

Moya told Fox News Digital, "Just because both bodies were in similar ways where we, as experts, sad to say that we know a lot about how people die and how long people are dead for – both bodies are in a similar manner that it could be a similar timeframe."

Although Moya was not a first responder to the  he was told that the property sprawled over 9,000 square feet and consisted of three structures.

The fire chief explained that his paramedic told him once he returned from the Hackman residence that Gene, Betsy and their dog — who was later identified as Zinna — were found in the "same building." According to Moya, the property had three separate structures.



**Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa may have died in a "similar timeframe," according to the fire chief. (Getty Images)**

The fire chief explained that his department has not responded to any calls at the Hackman residence.

According to Moya, the Santa Fe Fire Department was last involved with the investigation on Thursday, Feb. 27, and the case is in the Sheriff's Department's hands at this point.

Circumstances surrounding the deaths of Hackman and Arakawa remain a mystery to Santa Fe, New Mexico, authorities as they work backwards and piece together evidence to figure out how the couple died.



**Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa were both found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home on Feb. 26. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)**

 found Hackman, Arakawa and one of their dogs dead in their home one week ago. Detectives described their deaths as "suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation," according to a search warrant affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital.

 by maintenance workers Jesse Kesler and Roland Lowe Begay. Kesler, who worked as a personal contractor for the couple for 16 years, made the frantic 911 call on Feb. 26.

Detectives recovered two cellphones, an orange prescription bottle and a 2025 planner while inspecting the residence, the search warrant affidavit stated.



**Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya weighed in on Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's time of death. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)**

Officials also revealed that Arakawa's body was found decomposed with bloating on her face and mummification in her hands and feet. Per the search warrant affidavit, the deceased dog was found "10-15 feet" from Arakawa in a closet of the bathroom.

Recently, sheriffs confirmed a misstep in the investigation after wrongly identifying the dog found dead near Arakawa's body.

The dog that was found dead near Arakawa's body was misidentified by the  in the investigation, Fox News Digital confirmed.



**Gene Hackman and his wife pictured in Los Angeles, California, 1986. (Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)**

The owner of Santa Fe Tails, the pet care facility that took in Hackman’s two other surviving dogs, explained that the dead dog was a different breed than what is listed in the search warrant affidavit.



**Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa married in 1991. (Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)**

**WATCH: First responders haven't had any calls to Gene Hackman and his wife’s home in over three years: fire chief**

[](https://www.foxnews.com/video/6369654156112)

**Fox News Digital's Tracy Wright contributed to this report.**

Janelle Ash is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to .

Related Topics
--------------

- 
- 
- 

### Trending

- 
  - 
- 
  - 
- 
  - 
  - 0:04:39
- 
  - 
- 
  - 
- 
  - 
  - 0:03:08





Get a daily look at the top news in music, movies, television and more in the entertainment industry.

Arrives Weekdays

By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News  and , and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.

Subscribe

Subscribed



* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
* 
  - 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 

* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
* 
  - 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
* 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 

* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 



* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2025 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by . Powered and implemented by . . Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by .
```