A distressing video from inside the Santa Fe home of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa depicted their mourning dog keeping a watchful eye over her lifeless body while officers conducted a search of the couple’s disheveled residence.
Released by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office on Tuesday, the 11-minute footage captured deputies moving through the bathroom where Arakawa was discovered.
Just five feet away sat the couple’s German shepherd that stared anxiously at Arakawa’s lifeless body.
‘Poor guy, he’s sad,’ one of the investigators said of the dog.
Officials blurred Arakawa’s body, but the video clearly shows bottles of medication and other toiletries on the bathroom counter.
Inside a large walk-in closet was a pet crate where another dog was found dead.
As the deputies navigated through the $4 million estate, they encountered piles of apparel, paperwork, and various objects strewn across different areas before reaching the part of the house where Hackman’s body was located.
‘It looks like he was trying to go outside,’ said another deputy of Hackman, whose body was found in the mud room area.
The partially mummified remains of the recluse couple were found in their Santa Fe home on February 26
“I observed the the male’s extremities to be red and purple in color, the male appeared to be stiff, and his mouth was open,’ wrote an investigator in a report. ‘I also observed a pair of black sunglasses to the to the left on the male that were on the ground. To the right of the male I observed a black in color walking cane. It appeared as if the male suddenly collapsed.’
The 95-year-old actor and his 65-year-old wife were found dead on February 26 at their home in New Mexico after security personnel saw their bodies through a window and alerted authorities.
Carbon monoxide poisoning was considered an early cause of death, but was later ruled out by investigators.
Hackman died a few days later on February 18 from severe heart disease, which was exacerbated by Alzheimer’s disease and kidney disease.
Investigators believe Hackman may have been unaware Arakawa was dead given his severe health condition at the time of her death.
Medical examiners concluded Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome around February 12, a rare condition brought about by the hantavirus that is spread via rodent droppings and urine.
According to a report obtained by DailyMail.com, the property was infested with rodents.
While the main house was found to be clean, rodent feces was discovered in the three garages and two casitas on the property.
Investigators also said the three sheds on the property was accessible to rodents.
Open bookmarks on Arakawa’s computer on February 8 and the morning of February 12 indicated she was actively researching medical conditions related to COVID-19 and flu-like symptoms, according to a report obtained by DailyMail.com.
Gene Hackman’s 1995 will listed Arakawa – whom he married in 1991 – as his sole inheritor
Arakawa’s searches included questions about whether COVID could cause dizziness or nosebleeds, suggesting she was concerned about her symptoms leading up to her death.
She also had mentioned in an email to her masseuse that Hackman had woken up Feb. 11 with flu or cold-like symptoms but that a COVID test was negative. Arakawa also said she would have to reschedule her appointment for the next day ‘out of an abundance of caution.’
Friends said Betsy Arakawa doted on her three dogs
Hackman’s 1995 will listed Arakawa – whom he married in 1991 – as his sole inheritor.
Arakawa’s will meanwhile revealed that if the spouses were to die within 90 days of each other, the proceeds from the estate would be donated to charity.
Hackman retired from acting after 2004’s Welcome to Mooseport and was rarely seen in public during the final two decades of his life.
The couple was recently laid to rest in Santa Fe, according to People magazine.
The private memorial was attended by the actor’s three children — son Christopher and daughters Elizabeth and Leslie, the outlet reported.
The daughters told investigators they were aware that their father had ‘memory issues’ and had to be reminded three times that it was his birthday when they spoke to him last year.
‘While they had not heard of any rodent issues, they did observe mouse traps around the home,’ an investigator wrote in a report. ‘They noted that Gene and Betsy were very private and did not allow maids or cleaners into their home.’
