Netizens are discussing the recent information shared by the gas company responsible for investigating gas leaks and carbon monoxide at Gene Hackman’s home.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Santa Fe Fire Department have shared updated information regarding their ongoing investigation into the deaths of actor Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa, and their family dog.
According to the latest update, the New Mexico Gas Company concluded its inspection at the Hackman-Arakawa residence located at 1425 Old Sunset Trail.
The company formally shared its findings with investigators on March 3, 2025. The inspection, conducted in late February, involved a comprehensive check for both gas leaks and carbon monoxide within the home.
While no life-threatening hazards were detected, inspectors did flag five red tags—one of which involved a minor gas leak at a stove burner, registering 0.33 percent gas in the air. This level has been deemed non-lethal by industry standards.
The remaining violations were related to compliance issues tied to the property’s water heater and gas log lighters installed in the home’s fireplaces.
Despite these findings, authorities have clarified that none of the issues identified are currently believed to have played a direct role in the deaths of Hackman, Arakawa, or their dog.
Even so, the results have been formally passed to the Office of the Medical Investigator, ensuring they are reviewed as part of the broader cause-of-death analysis.
Following the latest official update from authorities, netizens flooded online forums with reactions, expressing skepticism and unease over the findings. Many were quick to highlight that even the slightest trace of gas should not be dismissed when investigating such an unexpected tragedy.
One commenter insisted, “A tiny leak is enough to kill.” Echoing that fear, another netizen declared, “A minuscule leak is still a leak discharging poisonous deadly gas. And continuously will fill the entire house 😱.”
Others found the situation unsettling from the very beginning, with one remarking, “I find this so crazy. Had to be gas or carbon monoxide or something. The dog dead [sic] as well. 😢 Just seems so bizarre.” “A leak is a leak,” stated a fellow netizen.
Another simply expressed their shock at the situation. There was also confusion stemming from earlier reports, with one person pointing out that officials had supposedly initially stated there was no gas leak detected at all.
Amid the swirl of speculation and evolving updates, Hackman’s daughter, Elizabeth Jean, has also weighed in on what could have led to the heartbreaking deaths of her father, Arakawa, and their beloved dog.
Speaking to TMZ in February, she shared that while the family remains uncertain about the exact cause, they suspect toxic fumes may have been involved.
