Newly released police bodycam footage reveals the grim final chapter in the lives of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, as officials responded to their secluded Santa Fe estate in late February and discovered the couple dead under tragic circumstances. Hackman, 93, was found days after Arakawa, 65, in a home they had largely withdrawn into, shielded by guarded gates and a lifestyle of extreme privacy.
According to footage obtained by RadarOnline.com and aired on Inside Edition, it was longtime contractor Jesse Kesler who initially raised concerns. He told sheriff's deputies he hadn't heard from the couple in over two weeks and was uneasy enough to investigate. "We go to the main entry door - it's locked. It's never locked," Kesler said. "And the dogs are barking at us the whole time."
Kesler, audibly emotional in the footage, described how he found Arakawa's body in the bathroom. "That's when we saw her. And then I told Ron, 'Call somebody, we gotta call somebody.'" He added, "I just found her. She's gone."
Arakawa, a classical pianist and Hackman's caregiver in his later years, is believed to have died on February 11 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare and often fatal illness spread by rodent droppings. Hackman, who suffered from Alzheimer's and heart disease, is believed to have died around February 17, alone and confused inside the home.
"He likely didn't know, or was unable to process, that his wife had died," said Dr. Gabe Mirkin, a longevity specialist who did not treat the couple but reviewed the circumstances. "A demented person just cannot recognize things and the situation they are in."
Hackman's body was found near the entryway. An autopsy revealed he was hydrated but had no food in his stomach. His heart medication was scattered nearby, leading experts to believe he had been trying, but failing, to care for himself after Arakawa's death.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office released only outdoor footage following a petition from the couple's attorney, Julie Peters, to block images from inside the home. Officers on scene were recorded urging workers to keep the discovery private. "Because of who they are, I just want to keep this limited," one officer said. "Once this gets out, you know how this is going to turn."
Another maintenance worker told officers he had worked for the couple for nearly three decades. "The bottom line was, 'Don't ever mention our name.' Privacy was [important]," he said.
One of Hackman's daughters, Elizabeth Jean, was contacted by deputies and requested that one of the family's three dogs-also found dead in the home-be cremated and buried alongside Arakawa. She also asked that the dog's collar be saved.
Hackman had largely stepped out of public life in recent years, making few appearances after his final film in 2004. His $80 million estate was left to Arakawa, who served as his successor trustee, according to filings reviewed by DailyMail.com. Arakawa's will is believed to direct her assets to charitable organizations and toward settling medical expenses.
