Since their quiet Santa Fe home became the scene of a double tragedy, the mysterious deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife have sparked a wave of questions. And now, newly released details from Betsy Arakawa’s internet history reveals a silent cry for help, suggesting that she likely sensed something was deeply wrong.
On February 26, Hollywood was shaken when one of its most revered legends, Gene Hackman, the two-time Academy Award-winning actor, who was found dead alongside his beloved wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their pet dog in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home.
Arakawa, 65, is believed to have died on February 12 from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome – a rare and dangerous illness spread by rodents. The disease is known to start off mimicking the flu, causing headaches, fever, and dizziness, but can quickly spiral into severe breathing trouble. It’s a condition so rare and easily mistaken for more common viruses, that it often goes undetected until it’s too late.
Rodent droppings
As part of the investigation into Arakawa’s mysterious hantavirus infection, state health officials conducted an environmental assessment of the Hackman property – and what they found added another layer to the story.
According to reports, rodent droppings were discovered in several of the outbuildings on the couple’s Santa Fe estate. Investigators also noted the presence of live traps, indicating an ongoing effort to manage a potential rodent problem outdoors, but the main residence itself showed no signs of rodent activity.
Mysterious deaths
Meanwhile her husband, the legendary 95-year-old actor known for The French Connection and Unforgiven, likely died about one week later from heart disease, compounded by complications from Alzheimer’s.
Both Hackman and Arakawa, who he married in 1991, appeared to have fallen suddenly and were decomposing.
One of the couple’s three dogs, Zinna, was found dead, trapped in a kennel, “approximately 10-15 feet from the deceased female in a closet of the bathroom.”
According to AP, a “state veterinary lab tied” Zinna’s death “to dehydration and starvation.” The other two dogs were found healthy and are now in good care.
Redacted details revealed
After a court order denied the Hackman family’s request to keep the records sealed to protect their privacy, a treasure trove of documents were released to the public on April 15. These include hours of redacted footage, photographs of the couple’s cluttered home, and investigation files.
Any visuals showing the couple’s remains have been strictly censored per the judge’s orders.
Still, what has emerged offers a tragic glimpse into Arakawa’s final hours – and the digital trail she unknowingly left behind.
Revealing internet activity
Investigators report that between February 8 and the morning of February 12, Arakawa was actively researching medical conditions online.
Documents show that on February 10, Arakawa searched online for “can Covid cause dizziness?” and “Flu and nosebleeds.”
Next, on February 11, the pianist emailed her massage therapist to cancel an appointment, saying that the star of Hoosiers had woken up with “flu/cold-like symptoms.” Though her husband tested negative for Covid, she asked to reschedule her appointment for February 12, “out of an abundance of caution,” AP reports.
That same day she ordered oxygen canisters from Amazon for “respiratory support,” and security footage showed her visiting shops, including a pet food store and a grocery store, while wearing a medical mask.
On the morning of February 12, the day authorities believe she died, Arakawa made a quick call – lasting under two minutes – to schedule an appointment with a concierge medical service, reporting symptoms of “congestion,” according to BBC. But she did not show up for her medical treatment.
The autopsy found inflammation in her lungs.
In the end, it wasn’t scandal or stardom that defined Hackman and Arakawa’s final days. It was confusion, quiet suffering, and a desperate, last-minute search for answers that never came in time.
Please let us know what you think of the information revealed in the recently released documents and then share this story so we can hear from others!
READ MORE
- Gene Hackman’s dog led first responders to his body
- Rare virus that kille Gene Hackman’s wife kills further three in US
