Pills found on Gene Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa are 'significant' and 'of concern' in investigation into their deaths

The sheriff investigating the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa has revealed a 'significant' piece of evidence.

Sheriff Fe sheriff Adan Mendoza, who is heading up the investigation, originally said of the deaths: "We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday (26 February) afternoon at their residence on Sunset Trail."

He further added that authorities did 'not believe that foul play was a factor'.

Hackman, 95, was a retired actor that lived in a New Mexico mansion with his wife, after featuring in over 70 feature films throughout an illustrious career that won him two Oscars.

Arakawa, 63, was an accomplished pianist in her own right, though a pair of maintenance worked found the couple partially mummified in separate rooms in their home.

In a press conference yesterday (28 February), Sheriff Mendoza told reporters that Hackman's pacemaker recorded its last event on 17 February, meaning that the actor would have been laying dead for nine days before being found.

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

He also added that there was no carbon monoxide found in their bodies, dispelling theories about a gas leak causing their deaths.

While authorities are still struggling to find a cause of death, the sheriff explained that pills found next to Arakawa's body, which was found in the bathroom, were classified as 'very important evidence'.

The couple were found dead in separate rooms of their own home (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

Sheriff Mendoza told Today: "We’re looking at that [the pills] specifically and other medications that were possibly in the residence. So that is something of concern."

He added that they were passed to the medical investigator, while the search warrant detailed that the pills that were found included an unspecified thyroid medication, Tylenol and diltiazem, the last of which is used to treat high blood pressure.

While the cause of death is currently unknown, authorities stated that the case was 'suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation'.

Hackman was found in a 'mudroom' with his sunglasses and cane on the floor, while Arakawa, as aforementioned, was found in the bathroom with bloating on her face and mummification in her hands and feet according to a search warrant.

Mendoza added that he was 'pretty confident' that no foul play was involved, but explained: "But of course, we’re not ruling anything out."

The high-profile pair were found by two maintenance workers, who said they had not seen the couple for two weeks prior.

The pills found near Arakawa are 'something of concern' (Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

The discovery of Hackman and Arakawa not having carbon monoxide in their bodies means that the suggestions from Elizabeth Jean Hackman, the actor's daughter, that the pair died following a gas leak, was incorrect.

Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya had also previously not ruled it out as a cause of death, though it was initially found that there were 'no signs of a gas leak'.

The front door was open and unsecured when they were discovered, while one of their three dogs was found dead in a closet.