Gene Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa, searched about COVID-19 and flu-like symptoms online multiple times before her death

The authorities have released many investigative records related to the deaths of Betsy Arakawa and Gene Hackman recently. The actions from the law enforcement agencies have come after a New Mexico judge removed the temporary stay on public disclosure with a few exceptions.

A set of records, reported by multiple outlets, revealed that Betsy Arakawa-Hackman searched about “COVID-19 and flu-like symptoms” multiple times. Per the documents, the authorities discovered an email from Gene Hackman’s wife sent to her massage therapist, Katia Van Horn, about rescheduling an appointment.

In the message sent on February 11, Betsy reportedly told Katia about her husband taking a “covid test” after he experienced “flu/cold-like symptoms.” She emailed,

“So, G woke up today with flu/cold-like symptoms, did a COVID test, negative. But out of an abundance of caution, I should cancel my appt tomorrow and rebook, say, in a couple weeks, last week of Feb if something is available..”

According to records, Betsy researched the symptoms multiple times on February 8 and 9. In the following days, she looked up “Flu and nosebleeds,” “COVID nosebleeds,” dizziness caused by COVID, duration of “hyperbaric oxygen therapy,” and “Cloudberry Health, Santa Fe, New Mexico.”

Here's a look at Betsy Arakawa's search history (days before her demise), revealed by the authorities:

The final search was on February 12, the last day Betsy Arakawa was presumed to be alive (per the investigators).

Betsy Arakawa and Gene Hackman’s deaths: Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office released investigative records on April 15

Santa Fe judge Matthew J Wilson ordered the release of evidence and documents on March 31 during a hearing about blocking the public disclosure. The ruling greenlit the release of all investigative records, barring any photos or videos that depicted the deceased bodies of Betsy Arakawa and Gene Hackman. Judge Wilson was quoted saying,

“The court preliminarily enjoins respondents from publicly producing – through the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act or other means – any photographic or visual depiction of the deceased bodies of Mr Gene Hackman or Miss Betsy Arakawa-Hackman in any format whatsoever including any investigatory photographs, lapel camera footage, or autopsy photographs.”

All other records, including the photos and videos with blurred-out depictions of deceased bodies, could be disclosed. Acting on Judge Wilson’s ruling, the authorities released the documents, which revealed the timeline of Betsy Arakawa’s online activity during her last days.

Apart from disclosing the emails and search history, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office also released many investigative records, including footage and pictures from Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s house. A video depicted the late couple’s dog seemingly guarding Betsy’s deceased body.

After the public release of the records, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said,

"Our statutory and fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers requires us to find compassionate and workable solutions that respect both public transparency requirements and a grieving family's dignity."

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Gene Hackman and her pianist wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead at their Santa Fe home. After the autopsy was done, investigators revealed that the wife had died almost a week before her husband.

Arakawa’s death was attributed to hantavirus, while Hackman reportedly died due to heart disease. The advanced Alzheimer's and kidney disease were also presumed to be the factors behind the Oscar-winning actor’s demise.

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