STATEMENT OF FACTS KNOWN TO AFFIANT:
At approximately 1:43 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26th, 2025, Santa Fe Regional Emergency Communications Center (RECC) received a call for service regarding a reporting party (RP) locating two (2) deceased individuals inside the residence of 1425 Old Sunset Trail, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501.
3 Santa Fe County patrol deputies Javier Barron and Joshua Thomas were then dispatch to location to conduct a death investigation. When Deputy Thomas and Barron arrived, Deputy Thomas indicated he spoke to two individuals (one of which was the reporting party) who found and located the front door of the residence (1425 Old Sunset Trial) to be opened/ajar. Deputy Thomas identified the reporting party (RP) to be a male named Roland Lowe Begay ( /65).
Roland advised he works as maintenance work for a company called “Hoam Company.” The other maintenance worker was identified as Jesse Kesler ( /72.) Deputy Thomas told Affiant after speaking to the two males he and Deputy Barron then walked to the front of the residence and found the front door ajar. He advised he did not observe any signs of forced entry into the home.
After Deputy Thomas entered the residence, he immediately observed a bathroom to the left of the front door. The door to the bathroom was opened. Deputy Thomas advised he observed a deceased female laying on the ground near the countertop, inside the bathroom. The female was observed laying on her right side. He advised she was found wearing dark gray sweatpants and a light in color sweatshirt. The female was observed to have black in color hair.
Deputy Thomas advised he observed a black in color space heater near the female’s head. He advised he suspected the heater could have fallen in the event the female abruptly fell to the ground. He advised he also observed an orange prescription bottle on the counter-top near the deceased female. The prescription bottle appeared opened with pills scattered on the counter-top. Deputy Thomas advised the female decedent showed obvious signs of death, body decomposition, bloating in her face and mumification in both hands and feet.
Affiant learned Deputy Thomas and Barron continued to search the residence where they then observed/found a deceased brown in color German-Shepard canine. The deceased canine was located approximately 10-15 feet from the deceased female in a closet of the bathroom.
Deputy Thomas and Barron then proceeded to clear the other portions of the residence. In doing so, they observed a pair of feet and legs on the ground near the kitchen area. Deputy Thomas identified a male (to be deceased) in an area of the home he believed to be a mud-room. The deceased male who was found wearing gray sweat pants, a blue in color long-sleeve t-shirt, brown slippers, and walking-cane. Deputy Thomas indicated he observed a pair of sunglasses located near the decedent’s left of his body.
Based on Deputy Thomas’ training and experience he suspected the male individual has suddenly fallen. Deputy Thomas advised the male decedent also showed obvious signs of death, similar and consistent with the female decedent. Deputy Thomas advised there were two other dogs located on the property.
He advised one of the healthy dogs was initially observed near the deceased female (inside the bathroom) and the other healthy dog was observed outside the residence. Deputy Thomas advised he and Barron searched the remainder of the property and found all other buildings and the garage to be locked and secured. Deputy Thomas (again) advised he did not 4 observe any signs of forced entry into the residence. Deputy Thomas indicated he did not observe any indication the residence had been rummaged through or items were taken from inside the residence. He advised based on his training and experience nothing appeared to be “out of place” while clearing the residence.
Deputy Thomas indicated he asked Roland and Jesse when the last had contact with the homeowners and they both advised it was approximately two (2) weeks prior. Both individuals advised they rarely saw the owners (of the residence) when conducting routine maintenance on the home. Both indicated they maintained contact with the homeowners through text message and phone calls and primarily communicated with the female homeowner identified the deceased female as Betsy Arakawa /61).
These two males identified Betsy’s husband and Gene Hackman (or Eugene Allen Hackman) ( /30), however did not positively identify him as the deceased male. At this time the male’s true identity is unknown, until further investigative research can be made/conducted.
Deputy Thomas and Det. Joel Cano advised Santa Fe City Fire Department responded to the location and conducted testing to determine if there were signs of a possible carbon monoxide leak (or poisoning). He advised the fire department did not locate signs of a carbon monoxide leak or poisoning. Those firefighters were identified as Captain Daniel Larranaga, Firefighter Adrian Perea and Engineer (firefighter) Anthony Rafliff. Affiant learned New Mexico Gas Company responded the residence and was conducting active testing on the gas line in and around the residence.
Those individuals were identified as David Balizan and Thomas Barrera. As of now, there are no signs or evidence indicating there were any problems associated to the pipes in and around the residence. Affiant spoke to Corporal Alexandria Hancock who advised the parcel of land and residence (1245 Old Sunset Trail) belong to a the “Trustee of Edgar Gross.” She obtained this information from a company identified as “OnX” which offer GPS mapping for hiking, hunting, and offroading events.
Affiant conducted research and found that the Sant Fe County Tax Parcel website revealed the property was owned by Edgar F. Gross. Affiant is aware through training and experience individuals exposed to gas leaks (or poisonous gas) can suffer immediate and unexpected death.
Affiant is aware through training and experience that individual exposed to poisonous gas might not show apparent injuries. The search for and collection of items listed above to include biological material, trace evidence, or latent fingerprints at the residence can assist with the determination and cause of death.
There are no immediate signs or indications of blunt force trauma. However, Affiant is seeking to seize any blunt force objects in the event there is any indication of blunt force trauma once the Office of Medical Investigations arrives on scene; and conducts their initial field investigation and possible cause of death. At this time; the manner and cause of death pertaining to Eugene “Gene” Allen Hackman and Betsy Arakawa passing is unknown.
Affiant believes that the circumstances surrounding the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation because the reporting party found the front door of the residence 5 unsecured and opened, deputies observed a healthy dog running loose on the property, another healthy dog near the deceased female, a deceased dog laying 10-15 feet from the deceased female in a closet of the bathroom, the heater being moved, the pill bottle being opened and pills scattered next to the female, the male decedent being located in a separate room of the residence, and no obvious signs of a gas leak.
At this time Affiant believes there is sufficient probable cause for the issuance of this search warrant. Any evidence collected could corroborate or refute statements made by those associated to the investigation; and would assist law enforcement in determining the cause and manner of death in this death investigation.
_______/s/ Roy Arndt ________ Name of Affiant – Roy Arndt Detective Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office
*Statement of Facts Copied From Attached SW.