Additional Coverage:
- Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s dog stood vigilant by wife’s dead body in new video (themirror.com)
Santa Fe, N.M. — Newly released police bodycam footage offers a glimpse inside the home of the late Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, where they were found deceased in late February. The footage, taken during the initial search of the residence, reveals a cluttered and disarrayed scene. One of the couple’s dogs remained loyally by Betsy Arakawa’s side.
The couple’s cause of death was announced on March 7th by New Mexico’s chief medical investigator, Dr. Heather Jarrell.
Hackman, 95, died of extensive heart disease, with Alzheimer’s disease listed as a contributing factor. Arakawa, 65, died from Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a disease spread through exposure to rodents carrying the virus.
Officials believe Hackman died on February 18th based on his pacemaker’s data, while Arakawa likely passed away a week earlier. One of the couple’s three dogs, Zinna, was also found deceased in the bathroom closet, likely from dehydration and starvation according to a necropsy report.
The other two dogs, Bear and Nikita, were found alive on the property.
A subsequent environmental assessment conducted in March by the New Mexico Department of Public Health revealed a significant rodent infestation in the couple’s home, garages, sheds, and even their vehicles, providing a likely source of Arakawa’s Hantavirus exposure. The property was described as a “breeding ground for infestation,” with evidence of rodent feces, nests, and both live and dead rodents discovered throughout.