Sheriff Adan Mosa of Santa Fe County, New Mexico, provided an update on the investigation into the deaths of Jean Hackman (95), his wife Betsy Arakawa (65), and their dog, who were found deceased in their home on February 26, 2025. The initial discovery was made when a maintenance worker arrived at their residence, but received no answer. Concerned, the worker contacted neighborhood security, which conducted a welfare check. Upon arriving, security observed the couple and their dog unresponsive through a window and called 911.

Deputies arrived shortly thereafter and found Betsy Arakawa deceased inside the home. Upon searching further, they located Jean Hackman also deceased in a separate area of the house. Another German Shepherd dog was found dead, while two other dogs appeared healthy. The scene was deemed suspicious enough to warrant a carbon monoxide test and other safety precautions, but the house was ultimately cleared as safe.

Authorities executed a search warrant and collected various items for evidence, including two green cell phones, medication bottles, Tylenol, medical records, and a 2025 monthly planner. No signs of foul play were evident in the early stages of the investigation, and the couple’s bodies were transported to the medical examiner’s office for autopsies. Early autopsy findings revealed no external trauma, and the cause of death remains undetermined as toxicology reports are still pending.

A key detail in the investigation came from Hackman’s pacemaker, which recorded its last event on February 17, 2025, suggesting that he likely died around that time. While the cause of death is still under investigation, Sheriff Mosa emphasized that the autopsy and subsequent tests are ongoing.

When questioned about the medications found in the residence, Sheriff Mosa confirmed that they were important for the pathologists to consider in their analysis of the cause and manner of death, but due to privacy regulations (HIPAA), he did not disclose details about the medications or who they were prescribed to. Regarding carbon monoxide, initial tests showed no signs of poisoning, though Sheriff Mosa noted that discussions with the pathologist would continue to confirm this.

The surviving dogs were taken into care, with investigators noting that the dogs seemed to have survived by going in and out of the house through an open back door.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to analyze cell phone data and further investigate the events leading up to the deaths.