ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Recently released body camera footage depicts the scene outside Gene Hackman’s home, where the actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were tragically discovered deceased in late February. The edited footage exhibits deputies conversing with two individuals who had contacted authorities after witnessing a person lying on the floor within the residence. Despite no evident signs of forced entry or suspicious activities, the deputies inquired about the potential of a gas leak or carbon monoxide poisoning, to which the witnesses indicated they had not observed any such occurrence.
“There’s something off about this,” remarked one of the individuals.
Following investigations that ruled out fatal leaks, the situation deepened as public interest intensified. The mystery was eventually unraveled a week later when medical examiners confirmed Hackman’s passing due to heart disease complications from Alzheimer’s, shortly after his wife succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome—a rare disease transmitted by rodents.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office has selectively released portions of the investigative footage. A recent court order in New Mexico temporarily prohibited the dissemination of any photos or videos revealing the interior of Hackman and his wife’s home. The petition filed by Hackman’s estate cited the family’s constitutional right to privacy during times of mourning under the 14th Amendment.
Workers who tended to the property cooperated with authorities while emphasizing the couple’s privacy. One worker described Arakawa as a private individual. The footage also briefly captures glimpses of the couple’s dogs roaming the wooded hills on the property, with one man identifying himself as a dog trainer who cared for their pets emphasizing the couple’s deep affection for their furry companions.
In a separate account, Arakawa’s hairdresser shared that she often brought her dogs along during visits, and the smallest dog was often by her side in the salon. Tragically, this particular dog was discovered in a crate near Arakawa’s body and a report revealed it likely perished from dehydration and starvation.
Hackman’s daughter, Elizabeth Hackman, expressed her wish for the deceased dog to be cremated, prompting authorities to connect her with a local animal shelter to discuss the necessary arrangements.
___Associated Press writers Jacques Billeaud in Phoenix and Rio Yamat in Las Vegas contributed to this report.
