Authorities in Santa Fe discovered an assortment of heartfelt love letters penned by Gene Hackman to his beloved wife, Betsy Arakawa, prior to their tragic passing. Nearly two months after their bodies were uncovered in their New Mexico residence, the police disclosed an array of documents and photographs from their home, among them, snapshots capturing the tender missives.
One letter, filled with gratitude, acknowledged Arakawa's assistance in preparing her own post-birthday dinner. It read, "Good morning, my dear. Happy belated birthday. I'm still sorry about the dinner and having to resort to your help, though I deeply appreciated it." The note concluded with, "I love you and the boys, G."
In another note, Hackman endearingly referred to her as a "lovely girl" and expressed his thoughts of her and "the other little ones," signing off with his undying affection.
At the time of his demise, Hackman was grappling with Alzheimer's disease, a condition he seemed acutely aware of and even jotted down his thoughts about in a third note, hinting at his silent battle against the debilitating illness.
"Ho, Ho, I embark on a journey to consult the Wizard, the Wizz of Achie, Pokie," he penned with a flourish. "Her dagger pierces me here, there, and nearly everywhere (with but a few exceptions). Yet, I persist, for behold, I still draw breath [despite the errors]," he continued, adding a touch of humor, "Love, G."
In a letter tinged with whimsy, the star of "Behind Enemy Lines" seemed to be whimsically informing Arakawa of his impending errand. "I venture towards that edifice beyond the steaming waters where you often sit, to perform whatever tasks one is obligated to in such a structure – perhaps the purpose will dawn upon me upon arrival," he wrote.
However, unlike the others, he concluded his missive with a playful twist, "Love, whatever his name may be."
The exchange of notes appeared to be a reciprocal endeavor, as authorities also uncovered a note left by the classical pianist to her husband of 34 years, which read, "Hi G! Escorting Zin to obedience class and a veterinary appointment. Expect my return home! A jigsaw puzzle awaits you on the table. xo B."
Numerous other notes revealed Arakawa's meticulous updates to Hackman, one detailing her absence for a yoga session and explaining that a maintenance worker would be "at work" on the property to address a water leak.
Among the documents unveiled on Tuesday, previously held back to safeguard the couple's privacy, were Arakawa's internet search histories, painting a vivid picture of their lives intertwined with curiosity and care.
An incident report obtained by Page Six on Tuesday revealed chilling insights into the final days of Arakawa and Hackman. Investigators uncovered that on February 11, 2025, Arakawa conducted an online search for "breathing techniques" and dispatched an email, where she meticulously noted that Hackman had awakened with symptoms resembling a flu or cold. The same day, she reportedly purchased several Boost Oxygen canisters through Amazon. Tragically, it is believed she succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a rare yet fatal viral disease contracted from the infected urine, droppings, or saliva of certain rat and mouse species, on February 12. She was 65 years old.
Further details from the incident report disclosed that the New Mexico Department of Health discovered live rodent traps on the secluded couple's property. Rodent feces were ubiquitous, found in all three garages and both casitas. Notably, despite these unsanitary conditions, the actor tested negative for the virus. Instead, Hackman's demise was attributed to hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with advanced Alzheimer's disease significantly exacerbating his condition. He was 95 years old. The last signs of activity from his pacemaker, indicating a probable date of death, were recorded on February 18.
It is heart-wrenching to imagine Hackman, alone and unaware, with his deceased wife for nearly a week. On February 25, their partially mummified bodies—along with one of their dogs—were discovered in separate rooms of their severely disorganized home.
