New details have come out in the death investigation of actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa. According to a report from TMZ, police body cam footage has been released by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office. The videos give a closer look at the events following the discovery of Hackman’s passing.
In the footage, deputies can be seen talking on the phone with Hackman’s daughter, Elizabeth. She gave clear instructions about what to do with the body of one of their family dogs, who was found dead at the scene. Elizabeth asked the deputies to have the dog cremated at the county animal shelter and said she wanted its ashes buried along with her stepmother Betsy’s remains. She also requested that the dog’s collar be saved.
The videos also show deputies speaking with a groundskeeper at Gene and Betsy’s home in New Mexico. The man becomes emotional as he realizes he will never see the couple again. According to TMZ, Gene Hackman was 95 years old and Betsy Arakawa was 65 when they died.
As previously reported by the outlet, investigators believe that Betsy died about a week before Gene. They think she may have passed away due to hantavirus, which is a rare but serious illness. Gene reportedly suffered from advanced Alzheimer’s disease, and authorities aren’t sure if he even realized that his wife had died before he passed away from cardiovascular disease.
When Gene and Betsy were found, they were in separate rooms of their mansion. Investigators also found three dogs at the home. Sadly, one of the dogs, which had recently been crated after a visit to the veterinarian, was dead. The remaining two dogs were found alive. Deputies told Elizabeth they had made arrangements for the surviving pets to be rehomed with family members.
Gene and Betsy’s deaths were initially labeled “suspicious,” which prompted authorities to file for a search warrant. Police collected health records, medications, and cell phones from the property to help with their investigation.
This tragic case has shocked fans of the legendary actor. Gene Hackman, known for films like “The French Connection” and “Unforgiven,” lived a private life in New Mexico with Betsy in their later years.
