She and her husband, actor Gene Hackman, died at their home, and Betsy Arakawa repeatedly searched the internet for flu-like and common symptoms, according to records released by New Mexico authorities on Tuesday.
The records – including witness interviews, scene photos and footage from the police department’s camera – provided some new insights in the last few days of the couple’s home near Santa Fe in February.
Mr. Hackman, 95, lived alone at home for nearly a week after his wife died, and then died of heart disease, Alzheimer's disease was a contributing factor.
Ms. Arakawa, 65, died of Hantavirus, a virus contracted for exposure to rodent feces and may cause symptoms of heat before shortness of breath and heart and lung failure.
Police records released on Tuesday in the case include Google searches a few days before Ms. Arakawa’s death, including “Can Covid cause dizziness?” and “Flu and nosebleed” on February 10.
The next day, she emailed a massage therapist to cancel the date and wrote that her husband woke up that morning with “flu/cold symptoms” but tested negative for Covid. That day, she ordered an Amazon oxygen tank for “breathing support.”
The couple's family had asked in New Mexico courts to prevent authorities from publishing records related to their deaths, citing a desire for privacy. Mr. Hackman is known for his roles in “French Connection” and “Hoosiers”, while Ms. Arakawa lives on the top of a large hilltop, in a secluded neighborhood east of Santa Fe for many years. They are often described as seclusion and have been increasingly isolated in recent years, especially after the coronavirus pandemic.
Some news organizations opposed the family’s demands, and judges ordered officials to release photos and body camera footage as long as the couple’s bodies were invisible.
The body camera footage of multiple officers released blurred their bodies.
The bodies of Mr. Hackman and Ms. Alakawa were found on February 26 when a maintenance worker was communicating with Ms. Alakawa about the fireproof materials he was working for the couple. When the workers took nearby security guards to the home, two men found an open door leading to the bathroom where Ms. Alakava was found lying on the floor. The security guard then called 9-1-1.
Responding investigators found Mr Hackman was found on the mud house floor at the other end of the house. “He showed signs of positive decay, including contrary to the light-colored hands of the organization's collapse,” Joel Cano wrote in a report released Tuesday.
One of the couple's dogs, an Austrian Kelpie named Zinna, was found dead in a box, who had been recovering from gallbladder and spleen surgery. A report from the veterinary lab determined that the dog was likely to die of dehydration and hunger.
Video of Ms. Arakawa's room was discovered showing a scattered pill counter, and found that it had nothing to do with her death. Zinna was found in a crate in an adjacent room with a dressing table and a sofa.
The New Mexico Department of Health identified rodent feces in three-car garages and two smaller rooms. Rodents can also access three sheds, the department said. On the day the couple's body was found, a pest control officer was visiting the house to complete his monthly visit to treat the circumference.
The extent of symptoms after Ms. Arakawa's death is not clear. On February 11, security videos showed her visiting stores, including pet food stores and a grocery store, wearing a medical mask. The next day, she called to arrange a date with Concierge Medical Services and reported symptoms of traffic congestion, but did not show up. An autopsy found inflammation in her lungs.
The chief medical examiner in charge of the case said that because Mr. Hackman, who tested negative for Hanta virus, had Alzheimer's disease, it was not clear whether he knew his wife was dead. He showed no sign of seeking help.
In a police interview with Mr. Hackman’s two daughters (he and his first wife), they said he didn’t know how to operate his phone and could not send emails. They said they knew their father had memory problems, according to the report from Detective Cano.
“They recalled that on January 30, 2024, Gene must be reminded three times that it was his birthday,” he wrote.
