The final days of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa are beginning to take shape after police released deeply emotional handwritten notes and a troubling Google search history recovered from their Santa Fe home.
On February 26, Hollywood was shaken by the news that the 95-year-old Oscar-winning actor and his 65-year-old wife of 33 years, a classical pianist, had been found dead at their sprawling estate in New Mexico.
Authorities believe Arakawa passed away first, likely on February 12, shortly after contacting Cloudberry Health to schedule a doctor’s appointment. Her body was discovered in the bathroom, beside an open prescription bottle and pills scattered on the countertop.
Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell later confirmed her cause of death as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), a rare and serious respiratory disease linked to rodent exposure.
Betsy Arakawa and Gene Hackman pictured together back in 1991 (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
A heartbreaking timeline of events reveals that the last recorded activity from Gene Hackman came from his pacemaker on February 18—nearly a week after his wife’s estimated time of death. This suggests that Hackman unknowingly lived for days in their home alongside her body.
Tragically, due to his advanced Alzheimer’s diagnosis, it is believed he was unaware of her passing.
Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell concluded that Hackman, aged 95, died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease listed as a significant contributing factor.
Adding to the tragedy, one of the couple’s three dogs, named Zinna, was also found deceased at the scene.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed that Betsy had picked up Zinna from Gruda Veterinary Hospital on February 9. “There was a procedure done on the dog, which may explain why it was found in a crate at the residence,” he said.
Handwritten Notes Reveal Intimate Glimpse Into Their Lives
Authorities have now released a series of handwritten notes exchanged between Hackman and Arakawa. The notes offer a poignant glimpse into their daily lives and how the couple lovingly navigated the challenges of Hackman’s progressing dementia.
The notes were affectionate (Sante Fe Police Department)
Authorities in northern New Mexico released dozens of documents and photographs of the love notes the pair would write to each other.
The images show Hackman referred to his wife as ‘lovely girl’ and was affectionate with his letters, signing them with ‘Love G’.
“Morning lovely girl, thinking of you and the other little guys. Love G,” read one note.
One particularly tear-jerking note shows Hackman apologizing for needing his wife’s help in organizing her own birthday – with her last taking place two months before their deaths, on December 15.
“Good morning. Happy several days after your birthday. Sorry still about the dinner and having to ask for your help, although it was appreciated,” the note read, before he signed it off: “Love you and the guys, G.”
Arakawa was a carer for Hackman as he battled Alzheimer’s, which one note seemed to show he was aware of.
“Ho, Ho, I am off to see the Wizard, the Wizz of Achie, Pokie. She stabs me here and stabs me there, she stabs me almost everywhere (almost).
Hackman seemed to make reference to his own illness (Santa Fe Police Department)
“But I survive because after [sic] I am still alive. (But some times just barely),” he added before his signature sign-off.
In another, he appeared to have informed Arakawa that he was off out on an errand and made a joke at his own forgetfulness.
“I’m going down to that building out past the hot water place where you sit, and do whatever it is that people are supposed to do in such a building – maybe I’ll remember once I get down there.
“Love, what’s his name,” he added.
Meanwhile, Arakawa’s notes reveal that she often left her husband jigsaw puzzles to tackle while she was running errands.
Search history
On February 10, two days before the pianist is thought to have passed away, Arakawa Googled ‘can Covid cause dizziness?’ as well as a search for ‘flu and nosebleeds’.
Arakawa is believed to have phoned her massage therapist the next day to cancel an appointment, explaining Hackman was experiencing ‘flu/cold-like symptoms’ but that he had tested negative for Covid-19.
She also ordered oxygen canisters on Amazon to assist with ‘respiratory support’, while police have previously stated Arakawa made multiple calls to a heath clinic for medical treatment.
Hackman and Arakawa had celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary just two month before their death (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
Since Arakawa’s passing two months ago, three additional Hantavirus-related deaths have been reported in a small California town, raising alarm among public health officials.
Dr. Tom Boo, Public Health Officer for Mono County, issued a statement earlier this month:
“A third case of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), each of which has been fatal, is tragic and alarming. We don’t have a clear sense of where this young adult may have contracted the virus. The home showed no evidence of mouse activity. However, some mice were observed in the workplace, which is not unusual indoors this time of year in Mammoth Lakes.”
Dr. Boo noted the difficulty in tracing the exact source of exposure:
“We haven’t identified any other activities in the weeks leading up to the illness that would have increased this person’s contact with rodents or their droppings. We’ve been aware of this suspected case for some time, but confirmation through testing has taken a while.”
He added, “The occurrence of three cases in such a short period is deeply concerning, especially this early in the year. Historically, Hantavirus cases appear later in spring or during the summer. While we’ve now gone nearly a month without any new suspected cases, the recent spike remains troubling.”
