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In a recent development, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office has unveiled new videos and images of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa’s home, nearly two months following their unfortunate passing.
Body-cam footage released by Page Six captures police officers navigating through various areas of the couple’s multimillion-dollar residence, showcasing a range of personal belongings and the overall condition of the property.
The footage reveals the state of the living spaces, including the kitchen and private bedrooms, which were filled with a mix of items such as dog crates, clothing, books, groceries, personal care products, and prescription medications.
While some sections of the home were slightly more organized, others were in a disorderly state, with evidence of unsanitary conditions, including human waste left in toilets and a bloodstained pillow in one bedroom.
In one clip, an officer is overheard commenting on a noticeable odor when they entered the house, noting that Arakawa had been discovered deceased nearby.
Hackman’s daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie, mentioned in a March 5 interview that their father and stepmother valued their privacy and typically did not permit cleaning services in their residence.
However, they also acknowledged that their last interaction with either of them occurred around a year and a half ago during a lunch outing.
The released materials provide a deeper understanding of the couple’s living environment leading up to their deaths.
Reports have indicated that their property had unfortunately turned into a “breeding ground” for rodent infestations, with various signs of vermin, including dead animals and droppings, discovered throughout the site, although not specifically in the main dwelling.
Despite the troubling findings, local health authorities determined that the principal living area showed no significant signs of infestation.
The release of these videos and images raises questions about the couple’s awareness of their home’s declining state. Nevertheless, it has been reported that Arakawa had expressed concerns regarding her husband’s health.
A recently unearthed email from Arakawa, dated February 11, indicated that Hackman was exhibiting cold-like symptoms, prompting her to cancel a doctor’s appointment out of caution.
In addition, her recent online activity showed a purchase of oxygen canisters, highlighting her concern for Hackman’s wellbeing.
The couple’s tragic circumstances culminated in Arakawa’s death being attributed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a rare disease associated with rodent exposure, at the age of 65.
Sheriff Adan Mendoza revealed in a March press conference that Arakawa was managing errands until shortly before her death, with a doctor’s appointment request made just a day prior.
The couple was found deceased on February 26 by a contractor, who described the discovery as profoundly disturbing.
Dr. Heather Jarrell, New Mexico’s Chief Medical Examiner, later cited Hackman’s cause of death to be due to multiple health complications, including advanced cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease, at the age of 95.
Local officials further indicated that Hackman may have gone several days without comprehending the situation, considering his mental state at the time.
Additionally, one of the couple’s dogs tragically perished due to neglect after being confined in a crate, while the other two dogs survived, likely due to access to food and water elsewhere in the home.
The remains of Hackman and Arakawa were interred in Santa Fe on April 15, with their families present for a private memorial service.
Following Hackman’s death, there have been efforts to restrict access to his death records, including autopsy details and police documentation.
Discussions about the inheritance of Hackman’s substantial estate, valued around $80 million, have surfaced, especially given the uncertainties surrounding legal arrangements and whether his children were included in official documents that have not been revised since 2005.
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