Gene Hackman’s final days are coming into sharper focus as new evidence sheds light on the timeline of events leading up to his death.
According to the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department, recently uncovered phone records suggest that his wife, Betsy Arakawa-Hackman, may have reached out for help before she succumbed to illness—raising further questions about how long the Hollywood legend may have been left alone in their Santa Fe home.
Hackman, 95, was in the late stages of Alzheimer’s and relied heavily on his wife for daily care. Investigators previously determined that Arakawa-Hackman likely passed away around February 11.
However, new phone data shows that her cell phone was used the following morning to call Cloudberry Health, a medical center in Santa Fe, three times. Authorities also noted that an incoming call from the same medical center later that afternoon was never answered.
This revelation adds complexity to an already tragic case. Hackman’s estate recently secured a court injunction preventing the release of investigatory records, including any photographs or videos of the couple’s bodies, their home’s interior, or even deceased animals found on the property. A hearing regarding the public release of additional records is scheduled for March 31.
Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza acknowledged that most of the key questions surrounding Hackman’s death have been answered, but investigators are working to resolve remaining “loose ends” before making final determinations.
Authorities have confirmed that Hackman officially died from hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s listed as a contributing factor.
Based on data from his pacemaker, he is believed to have passed on February 18—days after his wife’s death.
Meanwhile, the New Mexico Department of Health has confirmed that Arakawa-Hackman’s cause of death was hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but deadly disease transmitted by rodents. Her passing may have left Hackman isolated for a week before he succumbed to his own health complications.
While the investigation is ongoing, the newly revealed phone records raise haunting questions about Arakawa-Hackman’s final moments and whether she had been attempting to seek medical attention before she passed.
