Hollywood legend Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead at their home in February, and now a heartbreaking detail about their home life has emerged
A tragic new detail has emerged after Gene Hackman’s death.
Hollywood star Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy, 65, were found dead inside their Santa Fe home in February – their bodies were found partially decomposed and mummified – in separate rooms of the property. Authorities said Hackman died of coronary artery disease, with advanced Alzheimer’s disease listed as a contributing factor.
They believe the actor likely died on February 18, around seven days after Arakawa, who died from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, a rare virus caused by exposure to infected rats. It’s believed Betsy, 65, died a week before Gene, who likely spent his final days alone, hungry and confused due to his Alzheimer’s.
Their dog Zinna – an Australian kelpie mix – was also found dead in a cage near to Betsy’s body, likely having died from dehydration and starvation. The other two dogs – a German shepherd named Bear and an Akita shepherd named Nikita – were found alive and roaming around the property (both have now been rescued).
It’s now believed Gene and his wife slept in separate rooms of their home before their bodies were found. It’s claimed this is because the dogs didn’t always get on well with Gene and were “really rough” with him.
The couple were known for loving their animals but according to RadarOnline.com, it was Betsy who dealt with them. Joey Padilla, the owner of pet daycare Santa Fe Tails, took in the surviving two dogs when Gene and Betsy died.
Padilla, who often looked after the pooches while the couple were away, told cops: “(The dogs) were really rough with Gene. Betsy was the one who dealt with all of the dogs. Gene didn’t do anything with the dogs. And that’s why they slept in separate places, in different parts of the house.”
Padilla has revealed Gene’s estate gave the okay for the dogs to be rehomed. “It is with great joy that, with the consent of the estate attorney, I and my staff at Santa Fe Tails have successfully found homes for the Hackmans’ surviving dogs, Bear and Nikita,” he told the Daily Mail.
He added: “We went through stringent efforts to ensure the best homes were found and the dogs have already begun settling into their new lives. We are all thankful for the concern and well wishes Bear and Nikita have received during their transition. It is our hope that everyone continues to wish them the best and honor their privacy so they can continue to heal.”
It comes as a New Mexico judge has allowed the possible release of redacted police bodycam footage from the investigation into Gene and Betsy’s deaths, including images of the couple’s dead dog. However, depictions of the actor and his wife are blocked from view.
“There shall be no depiction of either body in any video production” or photographic image of their bodies, Santa Fe judge Matthew Wilson said. The judge has also ruled that the couple’s autopsy reports can be released – despite Hackman’s family attempting to block this.
During the hearing, it was pointed out that Hackman was known to value his privacy. Kurt Sommer, a lawyer for the late star, said: “Gene and Betsy Hackman’s names, likenesses and images are valuable and need to be protected and that is clearly proven out by virtue of the press wanting to get their hands on the documents to exploit them for their own personal profit and gain.”
“This estate has a duty to protect Gene and Betsy’s property, including photographs and videos of their dead bodies,” he said. The hearing also heard from the actor’spublicist Susan Madore. She said the star would limit the amount of press time he did for films and made it clear how he valued his privacy.
“I think that for anything like that to be out in the public, any entity can use that however they want in perpetuity,” Madore said on the topic of sensitive records from the deaths being released. “He would have never agreed in his life for that to happen. So, why would you think he would agree to it in his death?”
Hackman’s family had been granted a temporary restraining order blocking the release of any photographs and footage showing the bodies of Hackman and Arakawa inside of their home. A New Mexico court ruled in their favour, citing the family’s right to privacy in grief under the 14th Amendment.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
