Gene Hackman's vehicles could solve mystery of when actor died, former investigator says

It's been over a week since Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakuwa were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home. 

With various theories surfacing during the investigation, Paul Mauro, a retired NYPD inspector and Fox News contributor, says there's one key detail that could solve the mystery of when the couple died. 

"The public shouldn't jump to too many conclusions," said Mauro, who has an extensive background in law, law enforcement and intelligence issues. "Investigators are going to get a lot of digital evidence. Reportedly, there are no cameras [in or around the house], but that doesn't mean there are no cameras in the area. It's a gated community. So, there are probably cameras at the gate and on the streets. The neighbors almost certainly have Ring cameras.

"The digital evidence is going to show investigators, in a very pointed way, at what point, whatever occurred, occurred. You're going to get a narrow window that you can work with. Now, once you have that, then you can really go all out at all the possible evidence points to get more data to work with. You can pull the Ring camera from the neighbors, pull the camera from the front gate, from the surrounding areas. You can see any cars going in and out."

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Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their Santa Fe, N.M., home Feb. 26. (Getty Images)

Though reclusive, Hackman and Arakawa were often seen out and about in Santa Fe. A potential disturbance in their routine could be a major clue in the investigation, according to Mauro. 

"Reportedly, Hackman and Arakawa would go regularly into Santa Fe to get coffee and run errands," Mauro stated. "They're driving around. So, let's say they drove every day. They had a routine. Every day they went to get coffee, and then … they stopped going. Again, it's another indicator. Cars these days are rolling computers. 

"You'll see, ‘OK, they stopped going in the car at that point.' But what if the last time they were in the car they went to a doctor they have never gone to before or something like that?

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"Then you're going to follow that up because it's going to have a GPS in there," he added. "You can see where the car went. You can say, 'Well, the day before she died, looks like she was at a pharmacy and re-upped her pills, and she got a pill that she'd never gotten before.' Maybe she had a bad reaction to it. Did he find her and was he going for help and fell? These are all theories you have to entertain, and the digital evidence will lead you there.

Hackman and Arakawa were often seen driving in and around Santa Fe.  (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

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"The time of death is really, really important here," he added. "You really want to narrow your window of what you've got to scrape at."

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"Cars these days are rolling computers. You'll see, ‘OK, they stopped going in the car at that point.' But what if the last time they were in the car, they went to a doctor they have never gone to before or something like that?"

— Paul Mauro

Hackman, Arakawa and one of their three dogs were found dead inside their home Feb. 26. Fox News Digital confirmed the couple's oldest dog, Zinfandel, who went by Zinna, was the dog that died, according to the couple's longtime dog trainer. Zinna was 12.

Arakawa was found on the floor in a bathroom of the couple's home. Various pills were scattered on a counter, and a space heater was on the floor next to her, according to a search warrant affidavit. Officers described the pianist as showing "obvious signs of death," including bloating and mummification.

A former NYPD inspector told Fox News Digital the digital evidence could help investigators solve the mystery of when the deaths occurred.  (AP Photo/Roberto Rosales)

Hackman was found in the couple's mudroom. According to the search warrant affidavit, Hackman had a cane with him and sunglasses near his head. The actor showed similar "obvious signs of death."

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The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department described the deaths as "suspicious" and began an investigation.

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On Tuesday, the Santa Fe Sheriff's Department released an update on its investigation. 

According to a press release obtained by Fox News Digital, the New Mexico Gas Co. "confirmed it conducted an extensive investigation for gas leaks and carbon monoxide" Feb. 26 and made "no significant findings" at the couple's secluded home. 

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Hackman and Arakawa led a reclusive life in Santa Fe.  (Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)

The gas company did note there was "a minuscule leak (0.33% gas in air – not a lethal amount) at one of the stove burners." Additionally, there were four "red tags" for code enforcement violations, involving "a water heater and gas log lighters installed in three fireplaces," the press release stated.

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Driving in and around town was not unusual for the couple. 

Mark Kreusch, a photographer who has snapped photos of Hackman and Arakawa, would often see the pair enjoying long drives to "very, very remote" locations outside Santa Fe. 

"I would see him out in remote areas in passing and just on these long drives," Kreusch told Fox News Digital.

"I actually saw them driving a couple of different times. I was coming up from either Albuquerque or I was going to Santa Fe from Taos, and I saw them and I recognized both their cars. I kind of just gave them as much space as they could get, but I would see them in these very, very remote areas. They were really picturesque places by the side of a river once, and once it was near a mountain side."

One time, in particular, Kreusch recalled seeing Hackman pull over during one of his solo drives. 

The couple would often go for long drives to "very, very remote" locations.  (Getty Images)

"I was going skiing. and I saw him pull over," he said. "I went up [the mountain] for a couple of hours. And I came back, and [Betsy] had met up with him, and they were still there. It was just the two of them, but she always had her dogs with her. Always. She loved those animals.

"He wouldn't really get out of his car, but instead they would just sit and enjoy the scenery. They'd have these long times where they would just sit in the car and just hang out. I could definitely see him kind of just taking in the scenery, maybe even using it for [inspiration] for later paintings."

Kreusch said it was clear the two were "really, really tight."

"They were extremely close," he said. "[Gene] always seemed like a really together kind of person, as far as he was still up and about. And being at that old age, he was still really an active person."

Fox News Digital's Lauryn Overhultz, Larry Fink and Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this report.