Surveillance footage has emerged capturing the final public moments of Betsy Arakawa, the wife of legendary actor Gene Hackman, just weeks before the couple’s mummified bodies were discovered at their New Mexico home.
Hackman, 95, died of heart disease and complications from Alzheimer’s, while Arakawa, 65, succumbed to hantavirus—a rare and deadly illness spread by rodents.
Authorities believe Arakawa died on February 12, with Hackman passing about six days later, though their remains were not discovered until weeks afterward.
In surveillance video released Tuesday by New Mexico authorities, Arakawa is seen around 4 p.m. on February 11 calmly using the self-checkout at a Sprouts Farmers Market in Santa Fe.
Just minutes later, she appears on footage at a nearby Shine Pet Food store.
Wearing blue jeans, a dark coat, a scarf, and a black face mask, the accomplished classical pianist appeared alone and showed no signs of distress or unusual behavior.
Surveillance footage has emerged capturing the final public moments of Betsy Arakawa, the wife of legendary actor Gene Hackman , just weeks before the couple’s mummified bodies were discovered at their remote estate in New Mexico; (Betsy and Gene in 2003)
In surveillance video released Tuesday by New Mexico authorities, Arakawa is seen around 4 p.m. calmly using the self-checkout at a Sprouts Farmers Market in Santa Fe
Minutes later, she appears on footage at a nearby Shine Pet Food store
Arakawa had been the primary caregiver for the ailing Oscar winner, whose health had sharply declined in his final years.
Authorities believe the couple died days apart, and due to Hackman’s advanced Alzheimer’s, investigators say he may not have realized his wife had passed.
The video release comes after bodycam footage and images released by the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department revealed the crate where Hackman’s pet dog died emerged.
The kelpie mix named Zinna starved and dehydrated to death after she was left trapped inside the cage when the actor and his wife died at their Santa Fe home in February.
The couple lay undiscovered at their $4 million mansion for two weeks while tragically Zinna remained trapped in her crate.
The dog had been placed inside the cage following a visit to the vet and is believed to have been left stuck once Arakawa died.
The crate was located in a bathroom feet from where Arakawa’s body was found in amongst piles of garbage and clutter.
Wearing blue jeans, a dark coat, a scarf, and a black face mask, the accomplished classical pianist appeared alone and showed no signs of distress or unusual behavior
Arakawa had been the primary caregiver for the ailing Oscar winner, whose health had sharply declined in his final years
Authorities believe the couple died days apart, and due to Hackman’s advanced Alzheimer’s, investigators say he may not have realized his wife had passed
The video release comes after bodycam footage and images released by the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department revealed the crate where Hackman’ s pet dog died emerged
One online viewer wrote: ‘I feel so bad for the dog :(.’
Another said: ‘I hate to also think of the poor dog who died a slow death stuck in the crate. It had to be so distressing on the other dogs seeing him/her trying to get out.’
And a third said simply: ‘Poor dogs.’
A red blanket had been placed on top of the cage which was also topped with stacks of papers and surrounded by bedding.
The chaotic scene was just one of many in the couple’s squalid home which raised questions about whether Arakawa was fit to to be Hackman’s sole caretaker.
The couple were notoriously private and their mummified remains were discovered by a security guard on February 26.
It was later determined that Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome around February 12, a rare condition brought about by a virus that is spread via rodent droppings and urine.
Hackman died a few days later on February 18 from severe heart disease, which was exacerbated by Alzheimer’s disease and kidney disease.
The kelpie mix named Zinna starved and dehydrated to death after she was left trapped inside the cage when the actor and his wife died at their Santa Fe home in February
The couple lay undiscovered at their $4 million mansion for two weeks while tragically Zinna remained trapped in her crate
The dog had been placed inside the cage following a visit to the vet and is believed to have been left stuck once Arakawa died
Cops who combed their home following the gruesome discovery shared bodycam footage which captured how the couple’s other heartbroken dog watched over Betsy’s lifeless body as it lay surrounded by clutter
Cops who combed their home following the gruesome discovery shared bodycam footage which captured how the couple’s other heartbroken dog watched over Betsy’s lifeless body as it lay surrounded by clutter.
Clothes which mounted up over decades fill some of the rooms of the sprawling Santa Fe home, while other items including dog beds, pill packets and bedding are seen strewn across the floor.
A dressing room is filled with piles of shirts, jeans, dresses and boxes of shoes, while other treasured items are stacked high, close to toppling over.
A series of heartbreaking notes were also found dotted around the house, each exchanged between Betsy and Gene and showing the couple’s affection for one another until the end.
Photos of their adored German Shepherds also adorn tables and sideboards, with smiling pictures of the couple with their old pets dating back years.
The pair had three dogs at the time of their deaths, including 12-year-old Zinna.
Photos, artwork and perfume bottles cover a side table in the couple’s home
One of the chilling pictures appears to show blood on a pillow in an unmade bed
A basin and vanity area in one washroom is seen covered with pill bottles and other items in other photos which showed their squalid home at the time of their deaths
The two surviving dogs, Bear, a German shepherd, and Nikita, an Akita-shepherd mix, have since been rehomed.
Police released the body camera video and other public records related to the investigation into the reclusive couple’s deaths on Tuesday.
The documents, which initially had been sealed by a temporary court order to protect the Hackman family’s privacy, were released after a court ruled that most of them are public record.
The New Mexico Department of Public Health has since revealed an inspection found that the couple’s home was a breeding ground for rats which spread the hantavirus which killed Arakawa.
