Timeline of Gene Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa’s death changed after police discover new evidence
Officials looking into the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa believe they may have gotten the dates wrong initially.
The pair tragically died last month, alongside Zinna - one of their three pet dogs, with the 95-year-old actor believed to have been living in their house, on the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico, with the 65-year-old classical pianist's corpse for as long as a week before ultimately dying himself.
Authorities revealed that Betsy died roughly one week before her two-time Oscar-winning husband, but what we thought we know has been called into question after a clinician revealed he had spoken with her a day after she reportedly died.
Yes, it's confusing so here's a full timeline of everything we know about the couple - who had just celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary two months prior - and their dog's death.
February 9 - Betsy picks up Zinna from the vet's
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We can explain why Zinna was locked up in a crate, while the other two dogs roamed free.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed: "On February 9, 2025 she picked up Zinna from Gruda Veterinary Hospital. There was a procedure that was done with the dog, which may explain why the dog was in a crate at the residence."
February 10 - Betsy cancels doctor's appointment
Betsy calls Cloudberry Health in Santa Fe to cancel an appointment, according to Dr Josiah Child, who runs the facility.
February 11 - Betsy initially believed to have died
"It is reasonable to conclude that Ms Hackman passed away first, with February 11 being the last time that she was known to be alive," chief medical examiner Dr Heather Jarrell told reporters during a press conference on the pair's cause of deaths, on March 7.
Dr Jarrell also confirmed Betsy died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, adding 'the manner of death is natural'.
Hantavirus is a rare infectious disease that begins with flu-like symptoms and progresses rapidly to a more severe disease. It can lead to life-threatening lung and heart problems.
February 12 - Betsy calls Hackman's doctor and misses return call
Dr Child claimed Betsy spoke to a member of his clinic as she attempted to arrange an appointment for her husband.
“Mrs Hackman didn’t die on February 11 because she called my clinic on February 12,” he told the Daily Mail.
"She'd called me a couple of weeks before her death to ask about getting an echocardiogram [heart scan] for her husband. She was not a patient of mine, but one of my patients recommended Cloudberry to her.
"She made an appointment for herself for February 12. It was for something unrelated to anything respiratory."
The clinic made an appointment for Betsy later that day, but she didn't show up. Dr Child said it 'wasn't for anything related to hantavirus' and the clinic were then unable to get hold of her over the phone.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office to Today, explained how Betsy missed a return call from Cloudberry Health later on in the day.
“We can now confirm that Mrs. Hackman’s phone was utilized on the morning of Feb. 12 to call a medical center in Santa Fe, Cloudberry Health. A total of three calls were made that morning, all to the medical center," officials confirmed.
"One incoming call was made to Mrs. Hackman from the same medical center that afternoon. That appeared as a missed call on Mrs. Hackman’s cell phone,” the statement concludes.
"This information was learned through investigation into the cell phone data contained on her phone.”
February 17 - Activity comes from Hackman's pacemaker
When asked at the press conference on March 7, if Hackman knew of Betsy's death, Dr Jarrell answered: "I think that question is difficult to answer, but I can tell you that he was in an advanced state of Alzheimer's, and it's quite possible that he was not aware that she was deceased.
"Mr Hackman’s initial pacemaker data revealed cardiac activity on February 17."
February 18 - Hackman 'probably died'
Dr Jarrell told the press conference: "Mr Hackman’s initial pacemaker data revealed cardiac activity on February 17, with subsequent pacemaker interrogation demonstrating an abnormal rhythm of atrial fibrillation on February 18, which was the last record of heart activity.
"Based on this information, it is reasonable to conclude that Mr Hackman probably died around February 18."
While concluding the cause of death, Jarrell confirmed: "The cause of death for Mr. Gene Hackman, aged 95 years, is hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease as a significant contributory factor."
February 26 - Betsy and Hackman's bodies discovered
The pair were discovered by two maintenance workers at the scene of their sprawling $3.8 million home, as the front door was unlocked, and two of their three of their dogs on the premises were 'healthy'.
A bottle of opened prescription pills was also found scattered on the counter top of the bathroom near Betsy's body while Gene was found on the floor of the mud-room by a walking stick and sunglasses.
While it hasn't been confirmed what day Zinna died, an autopsy of the kelpie showed that dehydration and starvation were likely what led to the animal’s death.
Topics: Gene Hackman, Health
Joe Yates