Inside the Strange Deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa

Even on the surface, it appeared like more than a straightforward death investigation. The sudden discovery of the bodies of both Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, in their Santa Fe home raised chilling questions from the start: Did they die at the same time? How long had they been dead? What killed them?

As an investigation unfolded and evolved, new evidence and surprises have radically shifted the timeline of Hackman's and Arakawa's deaths, as authorities try to answer the one-million-dollar question: What really happened in that house?

When Was Betsy Arakawa Still Alive?

One of the chief mysteries surrounding Hackman's and Arakawa's deaths is when Betsy Arakawa Hackman, 65, passed away.

Initially, investigators believed Arakawa died sometime on Feb. 11. On that day, Arakawa was seen entering her gated community after running errands — visits to the farmers market, the pharmacy, and a pet food store. It was the last time she was seen alive in public, according to ABC 7.

But a key discovery shifted that narrative.

According to the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, phone records revealed that Arakawa called a medical concierge service, Cloudberry Health, three times on the morning of Feb. 12, according to PEOPLE.

Cloudberry confirmed the calls, adding that she had inquired about an "esoteric treatment," as reported by PEOPLE. There were no signs Arakawa was in immediate medical distress. The Cloudberry team tried to call her back but was unsuccessful. Authorities now believe that Arakawa likely died later that day from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease linked to rodent droppings and urine.

Hackman's Final Days Alone

Investigators believe that Gene Hackman may have unknowingly lived alongside his wife's body for nearly a week.

Hackman, 95, had been battling both advanced Alzheimer's disease and poor health. As of the time of writing, investigators are unsure if he recognized anything was wrong or what he did in the days leading up to his death.

Medical examiners believe Hackman died around Feb. 18 based on data retrieved from his pacemaker showing its last heartbeat recorded on that date. His cause of death was ruled as heart disease, with high blood pressure and advanced Alzheimer's as contributing factors, according to ABC 7.

A Delayed Discovery

The couple's bodies were discovered on Feb. 26 after a pest control worker, concerned by the silence at the home, alerted a neighborhood security officer. Arakawa's body was discovered in a bathroom, near a space heater and scattered pills. Hackman's body was found in a mudroom. Authorities described the bodies as being in an advanced state of decomposition, with Arakawa's hands and feet partially mummified as a result of the dry Santa Fe climate and elevation, as reported by PEOPLE.

Authorities emphasized that despite a small gas leak found in the kitchen, carbon monoxide and gas poisoning were ruled out.

The Fate of The Dogs

Perhaps the most unsettling discovery came in the form of Zinna, one of the couple's three dogs. Her body was found crated in a closet near Arakawa's body, having died from starvation and dehydration. Zinna was also in a state of mummification when found, according to the Associated Press.

The couple's two other dogs survived thanks to access to a doggy door. The surviving dogs were relatively healthy and stable enough to be rescued.

The Estate: Legal Tangles and Complicated Wills

Another strange wrinkle in the Hackman case involves the state of the estate. Thanks to his lucrative Hollywood career, Hackman's estate is valued at $80 million, all of which he left to his wife in his will, as reported by PEOPLE.

Meanwhile, Arakawa's will stated that her estate would be donated to charity via a charitable trust overseen by the estate representative. However, because Betsy passed away first, this complicates the question of inheritance.

Trust and family law attorney David A. Esquibias explained to PEOPLE that the Hackman and Arakawa had what is known as pour-over wills, and the order of death matters: "When you have a married couple though, the issue is who dies first, and in this case, Betsy died first, so she left everything to the Gene Hackman trust. He outlives her. So, he theoretically inherits from Betsy into his trust, and then when he dies, his trust goes to whoever his trust beneficiaries are."

At time of writing, it is unclear who the trust beneficiaries are. Hackman had three children — Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58 — with his first wife Faye Maltese. Christoper has reportedly engaged the services of a trust and estate lawyer, according to PEOPLE.

Loose Ends Remain

Despite determining the causes of death, authorities have not yet closed the investigation. Sheriff Adan Mendoza admitted that though many questions had been answered, there were still "loopholes" and "loose ends" to chase. Investigators are still reviewing phone data, medical communications, and environmental factors like rodent activity at the Hackman home, according to Men's Journal.

Despite his legacy as one of the last giants of old Hollywood, Gene Hackman retired two decades ago. His wife, Betsy Arakawa, was a former pianist. They had settled into a quiet life in Santa Fe. Their deaths — sudden, unsettling, and marked by strange details — stand in sharp contrast to the peaceful retirement they built together.

While their deaths have been ruled natural, the emotional and legal aftershocks seem anything but.

References: Gene Hackman's Wife Made a Phone Call to a Doctor. The Discovery Is Changing Authorities' Timeline of Their Deaths | Authorities update timeline on last days of Gene Hackman and his wife; court puts temporary hold on records | The last days of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa: A timeline | New Evidence Changes Gene Hackman Investigation | Who Inherits Gene Hackman and Wife Betsy's Estate? Why It Matters Who Died First, According to a Legal Expert | Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s dog likely died of dehydration and starvation, report says | Calls to medical clinic show Betsy Arakawa, Gene Hackman's wife, was alive longer than previously believed