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Authorities launched information associated to the deaths of Gene Hackman and his spouse Betsy Arakawa on Tuesday, together with police physique digicam footage from inside the house, pictures of the scene and a prolonged investigation report detailing among the final emails and web searches by Arakawa.
Arakawa died in February of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome — a uncommon, rodent-borne illness that may result in a spread of signs that embody flu-like sickness, complications, dizziness and extreme respiratory misery, investigators have stated. Hackman is believed to have died a couple of week later of coronary heart illness, with problems from Alzheimer’s illness.
The partially mummified stays of Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, had been discovered of their Santa Fe residence Feb. 26, when upkeep and safety staff arrived on the home and alerted police.
Photos, hours of footage and different paperwork had been made public on April 15 after a latest courtroom order that mandated any depictions of the deceased couple can be blocked from view. Authorities stated further information, together with dashboard digicam footage, might be launched at a later date.
An undated picture offered by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office taken through the course of their investigation and search of the house of Gene Hackman and his spouse, Betsy Arakawa. The two had been discovered lifeless on Feb. 27, 2025, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Santa Fe County Sheriff by way of AP
The redacted Santa Fe police physique digicam footage confirmed investigators working inside the house as they tried to piece collectively what occurred to the couple.
Investigators discovered certainly one of Arakawa’s German Shepherds guarding her physique outdoors the toilet door.
An officer stated that the canine “seems pretty friendly,” however one other warned that the canine had “growled” at an officer as they tried to method the toilet.
The footage additionally confirmed officers discovering the physique of Zinna, an Australian Kelpie, who was deceased in a crate. The canine had been recovering from gallbladder and spleen surgical procedure. Zinna possible died from dehydration and hunger, based on a report from a veterinary lab.
Officers then walked to the opposite facet of the home, the place Hackman was discovered lifeless.
“Two totally separate areas of the house,” an officer commented. “Mhm, it’s strange,” one other responded.
The footage confirmed them going by way of rooms of the house and discovering nothing out of the peculiar and no indicators of pressured entry. The investigators additionally might be seen counting cash that was discovered across the residence and looking out on the prescription remedy on the toilet counter as one of many couple’s canine barked within the background.
An environmental evaluation of the property by state well being personnel discovered rodent feces in three garages and two smaller visitor houses, together with reside traps on the property. There was no proof of rodent exercise inside the house.
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According to the prolonged investigation report, a overview of Arakawa’s laptop confirmed she was actively researching medical situations associated to COVID-19 and flu-like signs between Feb. 8 and the morning of Feb. 12. The searches included questions on whether or not COVID-19 may trigger dizziness or nosebleeds. She additionally ordered oxygen canisters from Amazon for “respiratory support.”
“This data suggests that Betsy was actively researching medical conditions related to COVID-19 and flu-like symptoms in the days leading up to her death,” the report said.
In an e mail together with her therapeutic massage therapist Katia Van Horn on Feb. 11, Arakawa wrote, “So, G woke up today with flu/cold-like symptoms, did a COVID test, negative. But out of an abundance of caution, I should cancel my appt tomorrow and rebook, say, in a couple weeks, last week of Feb if something is available.”
Arakawa’s search historical past additionally confirmed a question for a concierge medical service in Santa Fe the morning of Feb. 12. A overview of her telephone information by investigators confirmed she had a name with the service that lasted lower than two minutes and missed a return name later that afternoon.
Investigators reviewed a name historical past to the house telephone together with voicemails and safety footage from shops that Arakawa had visited on Feb. 11.
In a police interview with Hackman’s two daughters, they stated he didn’t know tips on how to function a cellphone and couldn’t ship emails, based on the New York Times.
They stated that they had been conscious Hackman had reminiscence points, a report by Santa Fe County Det. Joel Cano said, based on the outlet.
“They recalled that on Jan. 30, 2024, Gene had to be reminded three times that it was his birthday,” he wrote.
In a press launch printed on April 15, the Santa Fe County defined their determination to launch the general public information in regards to the deaths of Hackman and Arakawa.
“The New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) placed the County in a difficult position,” defined Gregory S. Shaffer, county supervisor. “On the one hand, we deeply understand the family’s need for privacy during this painful time. On the other, the County has a duty to follow the law and faced potential lawsuits, damages, and attorney’s fees under IPRA if we withheld the records.”
In March, a New Mexico courtroom granted a brief restraining order in opposition to the discharge of sure information associated to the investigation into the deaths.
The order was in response to a request by Julia Peters, a consultant for his or her property. She urged in a movement filed earlier in March that the courtroom seal information within the case to guard the household’s proper to privateness in grief underneath the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Peters emphasised the probably surprising nature of pictures and video within the investigation and the potential for his or her dissemination by the media.
But the county requested the courtroom for steering “that would both honor the family’s core wishes and shield our community from potential liability under IPRA,” based on the press launch.
“Our statutory and fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers requires us to find compassionate and workable solutions that respect both public transparency requirements and a grieving family’s dignity,” Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated.
In the press launch, the Board of County Commissioners and the Santa Fe County sheriff additionally prolonged their “heartfelt appreciation to the first responders who handled this devastating situation with exceptional care and professionalism, especially under intense media attention.”
“We offer our sincere condolences to the Hackman family in their time of loss and will fully respect the First Judicial District Court’s preliminary injunction,” the press launch added.
The request to seal the information initially famous that the couple positioned “a significant value on their privacy and took affirmative vigilant steps” to safeguard their privateness over their lifetime, together with after they moved to Santa Fe and Hackman retired.
“The personal representative seeks to continue to preserve the privacy of the Hackmans following their tragic death and support the family’s constitutional right to remembrance and desire to grieve in peace,” the doc said.
On March 25, authorities launched physique digicam footage from outdoors the Hackman residence and officers had been seen arriving on the scene for the primary time and talking with two upkeep staff who alerted authorities after discovering a physique mendacity face down by way of a window.
“Something is not right. Something is not right,” one of many staff stated to officers within the footage.
“My concern is a carbon monoxide issue,” an officer stated after trying by way of the window of the house.
Authorities quickly decided there have been no leaks that might have been deadly, additional fuelling a thriller that captured the general public’s consideration.
“Then we kept walking, and I seen something laying there. All of a sudden to see that, both of them, bro, it’s — sorry,” one of many upkeep staff stated, preventing again tears.
The bodycam video additionally shared the second that officers known as Hackman’s daughter Elizabeth to ship the heartbreaking information of her father’s dying.
“I’m real sorry for your loss,” the officer instructed Elizabeth.
Elizabeth requested for the couple’s deceased canine to be cremated and buried with Arakawa.
“If the dog was wearing a collar, could you save that for me?” Elizabeth requested.
In a earlier assertion, Hackman’s daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie, and granddaughter Annie stated, “He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”
— With information from The Associated Press
