Police share additional footage related to deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa
Law enforcement authorities have released new videos shedding light on the investigation into the deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa. The latest footage shows agents returning to the couple’s Santa Fe home to gather additional evidence. The bodies of the 95-year-old Hackman and the 65-year-old Arakawa were discovered on February 26 after maintenance and security personnel reported the incident to the police.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office has been gradually unveiling redacted records from the investigation in compliance with a court order that permitted the release of the records with the condition that images of the couple be obscured. This recent release includes three hours of police body camera footage, supplementing the previously published report, photos, and extensive footage showing law enforcement’s initial response.
The newly disclosed videos exhibit law enforcement officers conversing with workers and revisiting the home to search for further evidence during the initial stages of the investigation when the cause of death was still unknown. In one hour-long video, authorities are seen scouring the residence in search of Arakawa’s laptop and other potential clues. The Arakawa family representatives facilitated access to the house for the officers and directed them to the bathroom where Arakawa’s body was discovered. Moreover, a separate video features a pest control worker, who revealed that he had not encountered Hackman for at least a month. He noted that it was common not to interact with the couple during his monthly visits to the property and described Hackman as appearing weak and bent over with the aid of a cane during their last encounter.
Tragically, Arakawa succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, an illness transmitted by rodents that manifests as flu-like symptoms and severe respiratory complications. Subsequently, Hackman is believed to have passed away approximately a week later due to heart disease with complications stemming from Alzheimer’s. The estate, encompassing eight buildings, was in a state of disarray upon the authorities’ arrival, teeming with rats and providing a fertile environment for the virus that claimed Arakawa’s life. Dead rats, rat feces, and nests were discovered throughout the property, emblematic of the chaotic conditions in which the couple tragically perished.
As law enforcement officers combed through the residence, their body cameras captured scenes of cluttered spaces, with clothes, bags, and various items strewn across surfaces and floors. The presence of rat infestations was evident, and the kitchen showcased food left out on countertops. The deceased couple’s dog was found in a crate in proximity to Arakawa’s remains, having succumbed to dehydration and starvation. The investigations continue into this heartbreaking and tragic event that has captured the attention of the public and raised pertinent questions surrounding the circumstances of the deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa.