Major Findings Announced In Gene Hackman's Cause And Time Of Death

The bodies of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa showed no signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, based on initial tests, while data from the actor's pacemaker suggests he had been dead for about 10 days before being found in his Santa Fe home, the county sheriff said Friday.

The cause of the 95-year-old actor’s death, and that of his 63-year- old wife, Betsy Arakawa, both remain unknown pending a full autopsy and toxicology reports, which Sheriff Adan Mendoza said could take three months of longer. Mendoza spoke during a Friday afternoon news conference.

The "last event" recorded by Hackman's pacemaker was on Feb. 17, the sheriff said.

"According to the pathologist, I think that is a very good assumption that that was his last day of life," Mendoza said.

Initial tests conducted by the medical investigator showed no signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. While additional testing is still needed, Mendoza said that would appear to rule out such poisoning as the cause of death.

He also said neither Hackman nor Arakawa had signs of external trauma.

There are were security cameras on their property, the sheriff said.

"They were very private individuals and a very private family — there is no surveillance as we know of right now, in the interior of the residence or the exterior of the residence," Mendoza said.

Earlier Friday, Mendoza told NBC's “Today” show the couple were found by maintenance workers at their home on Wednesday afternoon. Investigators are trying to figure out the last time anyone saw or spoke to them, he said.

SEE ALSO: Gene Hackman's Life In Photos

Hackman was found in a mud room of the home and Arakawa was found on the floor in a bathroom. One of their dogs was found dead near Arakawa, two other dogs on the property were alive, according to information investigators submitted to a judge for a search warrant, in which a detective termed the deaths "suspicious."

Before the information about Hackman's pacemaker was released, Mendoza said it was unclear exactly when he and his wife had died and whether they died at or around the same time. The pacemaker information will aid investigators in their attempts to make that determination, he said.

Arakawa "showed obvious signs of death, body decomposition, bloating in her face and mummification in both hands and feet," and the appearance of Hackman's body was "similar and consistent" with that of his wife, the document states.

Arakawa was found with a space heater near her head — which may have fallen in the event she abruptly fell to the ground. Police also found an open prescription bottle and pills scattered on a countertop nearby, investigators wrote in the court document.

"That's obviously very important evidence at the scene," Mendoza said. "We're looking at that specifically and other medications, of course, that were in the residence."

According to court records filed Friday, authorities who searched the home retrieved medication that treats high blood pressure and chest pain, thyroid medication, Tylenol, two cellphones, a monthly planner and records from medical diagnostics testing.

"We'll be analyzing the cell phone data — phone calls, text messages, events, photos in the cell phone — to try and piece a timeline together," Mendoza said Friday afternoon.

He said investigators haven't yet been able to access the cell phones and may need to enlist the help of other agencies in order to get past any possible passwords.

The fire department did not locate signs of a carbon monoxide leak or poisoning and the local gas company concluded there were no signs of any problems with the gas infrastructure, according to the affidavit.

Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya said on the "Today" show there "possibly could" have been some sort of leak that dissipated in the days or weeks between the couple's death and the discovery of their bodies.

The full toxicology report that could indicate the substances Hackman and Arakawa had been exposed to prior to their deaths could take at least three months, or possibly longer, Mendoza said earlier Friday.

• Read more of a detective's description of the scene at Hackman and Arakawa's home when their bodies were found.

A maintenance worker who showed up to do routine work at the house discovered their bodies, investigators said. The worker said he was unable to get inside when a 911 operator asked whether the people in the house were breathing.

“I have no idea,” the subdivision’s caretaker said on the call. “I am not inside the house. It’s closed. It’s locked. I can’t go in. But I can see she’s laying down on the floor from the window.”

He and another worker later told authorities that they rarely saw the homeowners and that their last contact with them had been about two weeks ago.

Mendoza told “Today" there were several conflicting stories about which doors were locked at the house. Several were unlocked and a rear door was open, which allowed two dogs that survived to go in and out. He also said he thought the front door was closed but unlocked.

The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report.