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Gene Hackman’s Final Days: A Tragic Tale of Love, Loss, and a Deadly Stalker

BBG News

One December morning, Betsy Arakawa assisted her older spouse Gene Hackman in getting ready for their journey and drove them towards the quaint town of White Rock, which was approximately 45 minutes away from their hillside residence near Santa Fe.

As they joined the primary route, she spotted an unusual sight: a vehicle parked close to Santa Fe Summit’s entrance, their residential area, seemed to have moved into drive and was tailing them.

As the vehicle continued behind her, passing multiple intersections and stopping at two groups of traffic signals, it followed them along a lengthy and picturesque mountain pass. When Betsy stopped near a park, planning to enjoy a picnic and exercise their trio of dogs, a gentleman appeared.

Afterward, there was a brief altercation. The unknown individual, showing a binder filled with pictures of Gene, started demanding autographs in an aggressive manner from the legendary Hollywood figure. However, Betsy was firmly against this idea.

To ensure the safety and well-being of her husband, who had been affected by Alzheimer’s and was becoming increasingly frail and disoriented, she courteously but assertively asked the stranger to depart, expressing that he should show greater consideration.

The enigmatic individual complied, but their encounters were not limited to that instance. Quite disconcertingly, he repeated his actions after a brief interval – approximately four weeks later. On this occasion, he trailed the Hackmans to a place named Pecos, about a 30-minute drive east of Santa Fe, New Mexico’s capital. There, he made an attempt to gift them a bottle of wine and sought their autograph again.

Over the span of four decades, Betsy became accustomed to gently turning away admirers who occasionally made unwanted advances, as her husband was a renowned global figure starring in 80 films and receiving two Oscars out of five nominations.

Nevertheless, it was unsettling for her that this specific person was frequently seen hanging around outside their countryside residence.

In fact, she was so troubled that she confided in her hairstylist, Christopher Torrez, during their appointment for a haircut and color later in the day.

He informed the Mail that Betsy seemed distressed due to the enigmatic stalker, who was driving a vehicle with license plates originating from the adjacent state of Texas.

‘It was clear to him what vehicle the Hackmans owned, and that’s the unsettling part,’ he remarked. ‘To be honest, I’m bothered by this situation. They don’t appear to be famous individuals; they seem ordinary, everyday people. And it’s unnerving to think someone would stalk them like that – tailing them in a car.’

This week, I encountered Torres at his salon, 7K Styled. He’s one of several crucial individuals who conversed with the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office towards the end of February, in the wake of Betsy and Gene’s unexpected and peculiar demise.

I enthusiastically shared with the investigator my friend Betsy’s account of the man she encountered, emphasizing that he appeared Asian or Japanese. I added, “Let me tell you, Betsy is one tough cookie, but this situation struck her as oddly unsettling.

As the detective focused carefully on what Torres was saying, it was evident that he was under immense pressure. His department, responsible for maintaining order in a typically peaceful city nestled at the foot of the Rockies with approximately 90,000 residents, found itself grappling with a perplexing case that had garnered international media coverage.

Initial reports of the passing of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa surfaced on February 26, after Jesse Kessler, a frequent handyman and contractor who’d worked with them for about 16 years, grew anxious when they didn’t respond and decided to check on their property.

Peering through an open door, he spotted what appeared to be a body and immediately called 911.

Initial rescuers located Betsy, aged 65, unconscious on the bathroom floor. A half-empty medicine bottle was nearby, with pills scattered around a countertop. Upon further investigation, her elderly husband, who is 95 years old, was found in a storage area, known as the boot room, where he was lying next to his walking cane and spectacles.

Among their cherished canines, which included a mixed-breed Kelpie named Zinna, had unfortunately passed away. It seems that poor Zinna was confined in a compact enclosure.

The phone and email logs indicate that their last contact with the external world took place on February 12.

In this region, where the climate is very dry and dusty, it’s common for bodies to show signs of ‘somewhat advanced decay’, similar to mummification – a term often used by the authorities when referring to such findings in and around the city, which lies at an elevation above 2,000 metres.

Amidst the whirlwind of theories sparked by the disheartening revelation, diverse assumptions about their demise started circulating, with many being scrutinized meticulously by law enforcement personnel like myself.

Investigations initially led technicians from the New Mexico Gas Company to visit the couple’s residence, suspecting a carbon monoxide leak could have been the cause of their demise. However, while minimal gas escapes were found in the kitchen area, these were not substantial enough to lead to poisoning.

The pills discovered beside Betsy’s body were sent away for testing, fueling suspicions that she may have ended her life as part of a suicide agreement. However, it seems these pills were actually an antibiotic typically used for treating the flu, rather than any kind of suicide medication.

Upon investigating the premises, I carefully scoured every nook and cranny for any indication of a break-in or altercation. Interestingly enough, despite several doors and windows being left ajar, there was no trace of forced entry. Moreover, all their prized artworks and jewelry remained untouched, suggesting that this incident might not have been a burglary after all.

Following our phone call with hairdresser Christopher Torres, we began the task of uncovering the identity of the unknown stalker. Examining CCTV recordings, however, was likely to be a tedious and labor-intensive job.

Nine days following a grisly find, the police inquiry abruptly halted on March 7, as autopsy reports were finally released, suggesting that the couple’s mysterious demise was likely caused by natural reasons.

At a press briefing, Heather Jarrell, the head medical examiner of New Mexico, announced that Betsy died from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. This uncommon but extremely uncomfortable illness is contracted when someone inhales particles of a rodent’s urine, droppings, or saliva.

Generally, the victims tend to be farmers who clear out dusty barns or ordinary homeowners who declutter wardrobes or attics, unknowingly sharing spaces with rodents such as mice or rats.

Initial symptoms are similar to flu but it can quickly lead to heart or lung failure.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to emphasize the importance of being aware of a relatively uncommon yet potentially serious health issue that affects our nation. In the U.S., around 30 instances are reported annually on average. However, what’s truly concerning is that between nearly 4 out of 10 and more than half of these cases result in fatalities. Let’s keep this information top-of-mind to ensure we prioritize our health and wellbeing.

Previously, Betsy was spotted in public on February 11th. That day, she made a trip to Santa Fe, visiting both a local grocery store and a CVS pharmacy branch.

The day after her last contact via phone or email, autopsy findings suggested that she may have passed away around that time.

On February 12th, it was simpler to determine Hackman’s time of death due to information provided by his pacemaker, indicating that he had unfortunately passed away on the 18th of February.

It appears that the primary reason for his passing was heart disease, compounded by issues arising from severe Alzheimer’s. Sadly, this implies that during his last six days, the renowned actor likely spent them isolated and unable to seek help when needed.

His dementia was such that he may very well have been unaware that his wife had perished.

Even though Hackman hadn’t eaten, there were no signs of dehydration on him, indicating that he could still get himself a drink. Unfortunately, with Betsy absent and acting as his only caregiver, Hackman missed taking his heart medications, which likely played a significant role in his passing.

Additionally, it turns out that Hackman was equally in the dark about the dog, Zinna’s tragic end. Poor Zinna, who had just undergone significant surgery, was confined in a tiny, locked cage for her recovery. It appears she succumbed to dehydration.

As I digested the troubling headlines, my thoughts naturally turned introspective, accompanied by an overwhelming curiosity about Hackman’s private life. It seemed that speculation ran rampant regarding his secluded existence, living in a grandiose abode nestled amidst the scenic hills of Santa Fe, side by side with his significantly younger spouse, Betsy.

Additionally, it was mentioned that Hackman had grown apart from his adult children: daughters Elizabeth and Leslie, along with son Christopher.

Through their first marriage with the late Faye Maltese, which concluded in the 1980s, there were whispers that they enlisted the services of a well-known lawyer named Andrew M. Katzenstein to contest a share of his $80 million fortune. However, after spending a week in Santa Fe, where Hackman has predominantly resided over the past three decades, an entirely distinct portrait arises.

Instead of being solitary individuals, it appears that both Gene and Betsy played significant roles within their local community, boasting a broad and steadfast network of friends.

Together, they managed multiple ventures spanning industries like dining and home decor, supported community charity initiatives, and frequently participated in the town’s annual Fourth of July celebrations as well as other local gatherings.

Regarding Gene’s kids, they kept up their connection primarily through phone calls since they resided in distinct regions.

It appears that Christopher often played an active part in managing his father’s diverse investments, which encompassed a chain of commercial properties, some situated in New Mexico and others in Hawaii, where Betsy spent her childhood. He was even present with Betsy’s mother, Yoshie Feaster, on the fateful day when the couple’s bodies were found.

Talk of an ugly family rift is, I believe, deeply misguided.

Although Hackman often stayed away during their upbringing, a fact he admitted to later, it appears that his relationship with his children has noticeably improved over the past few decades.

And they thought highly of Betsy, who cared for their father until her dying day.

According to those close to the children, they have received sufficient provisions from trusts established by Gene to protect his wealth. They consider discussions about a potential legal dispute as baseless. It’s worth noting that a representative of attorney Katzenstein denies any participation in such a case.

Although it took them a month to retrieve the couple’s bodies from the medical examiner’s office, which has generated some news recently, I understand that such delays are common and arrangements for their family funeral appear to be progressing smoothly.

The story of Gene Hackman’s final decades is, as it happens, a largely happy one.

Despite his reputation for being challenging and argumentative on set, he officially stepped away from acting in 2004 and relocated permanently to Santa Fe, a charming, artistic city known for its galleries, cafes, and currently, anti-Trump protest posters.

In this setting, the well-known Hollywood actor began leading a more relaxed lifestyle. He took up leisurely activities like golf, fly-fishing, painting, and walking his dogs with Betsy. She handled his social engagements (Hackman opted against owning a smartphone) while managing their household as well.

In the midst of Hackman’s peak popularity during the 1980s, a couple crossed paths for the first time. Betsy, an accomplished pianist from concerts and a former cheerleader who studied at a university in LA, was then part-time employed at a gym.

At first, their meeting seemed a bit tense – Hackman accidentally left his gym access pass at home, and she wouldn’t allow him entry. However, astonishingly, love blossomed between them despite the significant 30-year age difference. Remarkably, this romance not only started but thrived for over four decades.

During his free time, the pair, having tied the knot in 1991, often spent time in both Montecito, California, and Santa Fe, where they were engaged in restoring a ranch-type residence.

In an interview with Architectural Digest, Hackman described the project locale as possessing a unique, enchanting quality.

During the 1990s, shortly after he received his second Oscar for the western Unforgiven (his first being awarded for his role as troubled New York cop Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle in the 1971 thriller The French Connection), they purchased a property located at Santa Fe Summit.

This is a private residential area, located high up on a hidden slope, offering breathtaking vistas of the nearby ski resort. It consists of fifty-five spacious residences.

Instead of their initial residence in Santa Fe, this new home offered greater seclusion with security gates and an additional barricade on Old Sunset Trail, the curving road they inhabited. This became his chosen retirement destination. When questioned about how he occupied himself in the town known for its thriving art community and residence to stars like Robert Redford, Shirley MacLaine, and George R. R. Martin (the author of Game of Thrones), Hackman explained to an interviewer: “I indulge in painting and drawing. Culturally, it’s quite appealing as Santa Fe boasts a top-tier opera and chamber orchestra.

During retirement, Hackman often found himself either enrolled in local art courses or working diligently at his home studio’s easel.

Apart from collaborating on several historical novels with Daniel Lenihan, a local archaeologist, he is also associated with Betsy. Betsy, who assisted in editing the books, later teamed up with Barbara, Daniel’s wife, and they jointly operate an exclusive textile store named Pandora’s. This store continues to thrive until now.

Barbara shared with reporters that Hackman often expressed great admiration for Betsy by inviting her to play on one of their two grand pianos at home. She was remarkably talented, as gifted as they come.

The Hackmans would also host old friends at their hilltop home.

Ivan Valdez, who’s a well-known fly-fishing instructor in our area, shared with me the story of their friendship’s origin. This all started when one of Hackman’s renowned guests, an American football coach named Jack Del Rio, expressed interest in fishing during his visit and asked for Ivan to be his guide.

I can’t praise him enough; he’s a genuinely kind person with a generous heart. Not only that, but he has the skill of casting a fly flawlessly.

A notable picture, hanging prominently in Ivan’s store, is a snapshot dating back to 2015 featuring Hackman proudly displaying an enormous rainbow trout he caught at Cow Creek Ranch, nestled within the neighboring Pecos Wilderness.

Though Hackman was in his mid-80s by then, he looks like a man several decades younger.

During that period, one of the couple’s dearest friends was Doug Lanham, a well-known restaurant owner in our town. Together with him, they shared ownership of a local chain of pan-Asian restaurants called Jinja. These restaurants are still adorned with numerous beautiful oil paintings by Hackman.

This week, Lanham’s eyes filled with tears as he reminisced about their joyful moments. They used to play golf at Las Campanas, a local club in Hackman, or simply enjoy each other’s company in the restaurant where the famous Hollywood star would graciously pose for photos with tuxedo-wearing high school students on prom night and often treat diners celebrating special events, saying, “That’s Gene.

Lanham displayed pictures to me of Gene and Betsy embracing his pets during a gathering, as well as Hackman waving water guns at a Fourth of July event in the 2010s. ‘Look at this elderly man,’ he reminisced, ‘chasing people with water pistols!’

At some point, Hackman loaded the pistols with Zinfandel, his preferred type of wine. (He was a wine connoisseur.)

Years down the line, finding myself still reeling from a golf game’s outcome, I, an ardent admirer, found myself in a predicament where I owed a debt. To pay off my wager, I decided on a whim to approach Lanham, and, with a mischievous twinkle in my eye, I scattered $22 worth of single cents across his desk. Accompanying this monetary gesture was an extensive missive, penned under the pseudonym ‘Captain Hollywood’, expressing my dissatisfaction with the debt.

As a devoted admirer, I can attest that the Hackmans were known for their enthusiasm for social gatherings – a fondness I recall vividly. Whenever there was a community charity event, they would invariably be present, often contributing one of Gene’s masterpieces as an enticing auction item.

And at Lanham’s wedding in 2007, the Hackmans spent hours leading a conga line on the dance floor.

It’s not obviously characteristic of a secluded oddball the way he behaved. In fact, even in his later life, the actor still had a combative streak. During the early 2000s, an altercation over traffic led to a physical fight in Los Angeles for him. Lanham shared that Gene once told him about this incident; he found himself on the ground, looked up, and saw above him a poster advertising one of his movies, bearing his own face.

On another occasion, in 2012, he slapped a local homeless man who had shouted abuse at Betsy.

‘We’d talk about fights, and that sort of thing. Boy, he loved a fight,’ Lanham recalled.

In my line of work as a lifestyle advisor, I’ve come across an intriguing piece of advice that caught my attention. This individual shared a unique approach to resolving disagreements. After a heated argument, he suggested approaching the other person with open hands and saying sincerely, “Hey, buddy, I apologize. I truly mean it.”

When the other person is less guarded, he then focuses intently on their nose and delivers a swift punch. In his words, “It’s a quick jab, Wham!” However, let me emphasize that this method is far from advisable in real-life conflict resolution, as it promotes violence rather than peace.

Similar to many friends of Hackman’s, Lanham acknowledges that Betsy played a significant role in maintaining her husband’s health and vigor well into his nineties, even with heart issues and occasional back pain stemming from a bicycle accident in Florida during the 2010s.

‘They consumed a lot of nutritious, fresh, and delicious meals. Moreover, she played a significant role in ensuring his self-care. She ensured he exercised regularly, including doing Pilates.’

Tom Allin, one of the golfing companions, shared a memory about her taking special care of him. He explained that on their celebration of his 90th birthday in 2020, she gently mixed his wine with sparkling water to look after him.

A couple of weeks following the joyous event, something happened indirectly that eventually resulted in Hackman’s unfortunate death.

Upon the arrival of Covid-19, it was prudent, considering his advanced age and heart condition, for him and Betsy to isolate themselves for a few months.

At that point, Hackman grew remarkably weak. It’s thought that an encounter with the virus had substantially worsened his previously failing heart.

Even when the pandemic eased, life was never quite the same again.

In 2023, Hackman kept going at a leisurely pace and had his picture taken behind the wheel while pulling up at a drive-thru fast-food joint.

But he never managed to return to the golf course or cast a fly at a trout.

1. He found it difficult on his back when standing at an easel and began to feel often confused, making social gatherings less enjoyable.

2. Due to the strain on his back from working at an easel, he experienced confusion more frequently, causing him discomfort during social events.

3. Standing for extended periods at an easel caused discomfort in his back, and he found himself becoming easily confused, which made social situations less enjoyable.

4. The physical stress of standing at the easel strained his back, leading to more frequent confusion, making social engagements bothersome.

5. Standing for long periods at an easel put a strain on his back and left him feeling confused often, making social events less pleasant.

6. He found that working at an easel caused discomfort in his back, which made it difficult to stay focused and led to more frequent confusion, making social functions less appealing.

7. Standing for long periods at an easel proved challenging on his back, causing him to feel confused more frequently, which made attending social events less enjoyable.

8. Working at an easel put a strain on his back, resulting in increased confusion and making social situations less comfortable.

9. The physical discomfort of standing for long periods at an easel caused issues with his back and left him feeling confused more often, which made attending social events less appealing.

10. Standing at an easel put a strain on his back, leading to increased confusion and making social gatherings less enjoyable due to the physical discomfort and mental fog.

In the waning days of Alzheimer’s disease, I found myself dedicating most of my time to caring for Gene. To provide him with the space and care he needed, I relocated him to a private room at the far end of our home, while I continued to share the other half with our beloved pets.

A woman who took great pride in her marriage and fiercely guarded her husband’s well-being, chose not to bring in caretakers for help. Additionally, after a chilling encounter with a stalker in December, she grew hesitant about taking her husband, Gene, outside when she ventured out of the house for errands.

Regardless of their affluence, it appears that this couple has chosen not to hire cleaners or housekeeping staff for maintaining their sprawling residence.

Although we can’t confirm if it caused a rodent infestation leading to the spread of the deadly ‘hantavirus’, it undoubtedly contributed significantly to the tragic end of the Hollywood legend.

For when Gene Hackman’s beloved Betsy was taken, there was – sadly – no one left to help.

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2025-03-29 04:56

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