Gene Hackman's 'infested' home revealed after tragic death with fans shocked

Irish Daily Star

23-04-2025

Startling police images have exposed the shocking conditions inside Gene Hackman's home, where the legendary actor and his wife were found dead in February,
with their deaths still prompting theories online among fans.
The Santa Fe, New Mexico property was in complete disarray, with authorities describing it as a "breeding ground for infestation" upon finding numerous dead rodents, their droppings, and nests throughout the home, with
shocking images showing the messy state of the home.
It has been confirmed that 95-year-old Gene succumbed to complications from severe heart disease, hypertension, and late-stage Alzheimer's disease, while his 65-year-old wife Betsy Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome –
a rare disease spread by rodents.
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X users expressed their dismay over the state of Gene's residence.
Gene Hackman's home
(Image: (Image: Santa Fe Sheriff's Office))
"This honestly isn't fair. They were both elderly and not in good health. They couldn't take care of themselves, let alone their house. This should not be the way they were remembered or exploited," lamented one X user, reports
the Mirror US
.
Another commented: "This story keeps getting sadder. Did no one look in on them?"
Redacted body camera footage reveals officers inspecting the premises, observing no signs of forced entry or anything amiss with the couple's belongings when their bodies were discovered.
The video captures the sight of prescription bottles on a bathroom counter, accompanied by the sound of one of the couple's dogs barking in the background.
A court initially sealed all photos, videos, and documents related to the investigation due to privacy concerns. However, following a request by Gene's estate and Betsy's mother to extend this order, the court has now permitted the release of investigative files, with the exception of imagery showing the deceased individuals.
The Irish Star uncovers a household in disarray, revealing how officers navigating the clutter encountered an array of personal belongings—clothing, toiletries, medication vials, dog cages, and books—strewn across the space from kitchen to private chambers.
Oddly tidied spaces juxtaposed against utter disarray, like a bathroom crammed with cartons, literary material, documents, and miscellaneous items such as a fan and animal enclosures, encapsulate the scene.
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa
(Image: (Image: Getty))
Counters were awash with an eclectic mix of things: drugs, containers, grooming products, combs, a mobile phone, and chargers.
COVID-19 test kits and Betsy's thyroid medication were among the various healthcare articles found. Feces and urine tarnished one toilet bowl, while another room divulged a bloodied pillow.
Headlines now blare with revelations, including assertions like "Gene Hackman's medical report finds 'infested' home a 'breeding ground' for hantavirus."
The tragic end for Gene Hackman's wife is traced as a desperate search for answers on the day she died comes to light, with reports of "Gene Hackman mystery bombshells from bizarre phone call to disturbing home update."
Investigators came upon mounds of clothing inside the home, some freshly dry-cleaned and still in their protective coverings, neat stacks of shoe boxes in a wardrobe, and various items strewn about the floor.
The kitchen appeared more orderly compared to the rest of the house but was overflowing with foodstuffs, some starting to spoil on the counters.
Bodycam footage from deputies documented their search through the sprawling property and into the numerous rooms where the bodies of the couple were found.
One of their pet dogs lingered near Betsy's body, sparingly shown in the video, while officers first stepped foot in the home.
A hushed comment from an officer, "They say they're very private people, like very," added to the grim scene unfolded at the couple's estate.
This is an undated image provided by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office during the course of their investigation and search of the home of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, where the two were found dead Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Santa Fe, New Mexico
(Image: AP)
Every corner seemed to show evidence of a rodent issue—spotted across three garages, two casitas, and a trio of shelters.
Encounters with these unwanted guests varied: one alive, one dead, and even a nest nestled within different outbuildings.
The vehicles parked on site didn't escape either, with clear signs of infestation, and a wealth of live traps scattered throughout suggested the magnitude of the pest problem.
After the sad details emerged, friends of the respected actor revealed that he and his wife had been privately interred, remembered in a private funeral service attended only by family-including Gene's three children and close friends.
Their love story began in the mid-'80s and blossomed as they moved in together, eventually seeking the tranquility of New Mexico.
Gene's film career was a diverse mix of roles, starting in 1961 with Mad Dog Coll. However, his most unforgettable performances include playing the villainous Lex Luthor in Superman and a redemption-seeking coach in the heartwarming classic Hoosiers.
The state of Gene Hackman's home has shocked fans
(Image: (Image: Santa Fe Sheriff's Office))
With five Oscar nominations to his credit, Gene won the best actor award for The French Connection in '72 and the best-supporting actor two decades later for Unforgiven. He then retired from the limelight to enjoy a quiet life in New Mexico.
Betsy was born in Hawaii in December 1959 and spent her early years in Honolulu.
She pursued piano studies and, at just 11 years old as a sixth-grader, she showcased her talent in youth concerts at the Honolulu International Center Concert Hall, mesmerizing thousands of students, according to a 1971 report by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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She continued her education at the University of Southern
California
and supported the Aztecs, a professional soccer team in the North American Soccer League.
Betsy also gained industry experience working as a production assistant on the TV game show Card Sharks.
As per business records in New Mexico, Betsy held the position of vice president at Pandora's, a Santa Fe-based store specialising in home decor and furnishings.
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