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Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s filthy hoarder home — where their mummified remains were found — revealed in disturbing photos
Jarring bodycam footage showed the day New Mexico authorities discovered the partially mummified remains of iconic actor Gene Hackman and his wife inside their house — with some rooms in complete disarray while others appeared eerily untouched.
The revealing images released Tuesday offered a harrowing glimpse of how two-time Oscar winner Hackman, 95, and his longtime wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, lived inside their palatial yet cluttered Santa Fe home in their final days — and where they were found dead.
The trove of photos and videos from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office also provided insight into the life of the famously reclusive Golden Globe winner.
Deputies on scene surveyed the vast property, entering the separate rooms where the couple’s bodies were located, according to one bodycam video.
One of their three beloved dogs stayed right near Arakawa’s body, which was blurred, when authorities first walked into part of the home.
Hackman’s body, also blurred, was located in another wing of the sprawling estate that required the deputies to go outside and walk through numerous other rooms, including a bedroom, before reaching the dead actor.
“They say they’re very private people, like very,” one deputy could be heard saying later.
Parts of the house appeared unkempt with clothes tossed around on chairs, dry cleaning with the bags still on crammed into a big closet and paper bags lining the kitchen floor while some rotting fruits and vegetables were left out on a counter.
A pillowcase on one unmade bed appeared to have bloodstains on it, while stacks of papers were on top of one of the couple’s dog kennels.
But other parts of the property appeared almost untouched and orderly, according to the video.
More images showed an open COVID-19 test and an email Arakawa sent that indicated she was concerned her elderly husband had the deadly virus.
“So, G woke up today with flu/cold-like symptoms, did a covid test, negative,” she wrote to an unidentified recipient. “But out of an abundance of caution, I should cancel my appt. tomorrow and rebook, say in a couple weeks, last week of Feb if something is available … Thank you!”
An investigation report obtained by TMZ Tuesday indicated Arakawa researched COVID symptoms and was considering seeking medical care for her frail husband before her death.
Bottles of prescriptions for Hackman included thyroid meds, antihypertensive diltiazem and gallstone dissolver ursodiol, while there was a bottle of thyroid meds for Arakawa.
Some pills appeared spilled out of a small container.
Additional images showed dozens of award ribbons for dog training, a pool table, arcade games, a piano and several pieces of gym equipment, including a stationary bicycle.
Dozens of books, an array of photos of the couple and their dogs, various small statues and figurines, plants and a Feb. 11 print copy of the Santa Fe New Mexican were among the other personal items seen in the footage.
An unfinished puzzle also sat on a table, along with a National Parks puzzle book and a connect-the-dots activity book — which Hackman could have done to manage his Alzheimer’s disease.
“The French Connection” star died a few days after his wife, following complications with hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease along with advanced Alzheimer’s disease.
Arakawa’s cause of death stemmed from a rare, rodent-borne disease — hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, officials have said.
One of the couple’s three dogs, Zinna, was also found dead locked inside a crate near Arakawa’s body.
