It's been a year since the sad deaths of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, with tragic bodycam footage shedding light on the classical pianist's final hours.

The couple were discovered partially mummified at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on February 26, with the circumstances surrounding their deaths making for harrowing reading. It was later confirmed that Betsy, 65, had succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome - an uncommon illness transmitted by rats. Her 95-year-old husband Gene, whom she remained fiercely protective of right up until the end, died around one week later, from heart disease, with his advanced Alzheimer's disease also understood to be a contributing factor.

Sadly, it's believed Gene's illness may have progressed to the point that he didn't even realise his wife of 34 years had already passed away, as he spent his final days alone in the mansion they'd designed together. Bodycam footage taken at the home sheds light on Betsy's harrowing plight, as she suffered through what she believed to be symptoms of COVID.

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Concerning Google searches

Officers discovered open internet searches for COVID-19 symptoms on Betsy's laptop whilst examining their property, which indicated that the musician had become increasingly worried about her condition. Open bookmarks, dated February 8 and 12 - the day she is thought to have died, showed two particular symptoms she was experiencing, which are now understood to have been triggered by the hantavirus.

Betsy's frantic Google searches included whether COVID could cause dizziness or nosebleeds, and included the specific search term, "can COVID cause dizziness?", alongside "Flu and nosebleeds". Severe headaches are among the primary characteristics of hantavirus, occurring in roughly half of all patients. Nosebleeds, though, aren't as widespread.

Final emails

One of Betsy's final emails was dispatched to her masseuse on February 11, approximately one day before her death. She had been writing to reschedule her massage session due to persistent symptoms. While she continued to suspect these could be down to coronavirus, she also mentioned she'd returned a negative test. Explaining that she wished to call off the appointment "out of an abundance of caution", Betsy informed her masseuse that Gene had developed flu or cold-like symptoms upon waking, but he, too, had tested negative.

Alarming Amazon order

On February 11, Betsy visited Amazon to purchase some oxygen canisters. Believed to have been bought for "respiratory support", this alarming purchase indicates she - or Gene - was experiencing breathing difficulties. Certain manufacturers suggest that regular use of oxygen canisters can help reduce tiredness whilst also offering a natural detoxification.

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Medication sprawl

Photographs from within the Hackman residence revealed a chaotic spread of medication across the bathroom sink unit. Two medication containers dominated the front of the cabinet, with one lying open, scattering multiple tablets across the surface beside it. At least two additional medication containers could be seen in a partly opened drawer below. Face creams, cosmetics, stationery, old receipts, discarded toothpaste packaging, and even a trophy littered the worktop surrounding the sink.

Betsy's final public appearance was captured on CCTV footage inside a supermarket on February 11. She was spotted donning a black face mask inside a Sprouts Grocery Market store in Santa Fe at around 4 pm and was later seen inside a nearby Shine Pet Food store, dressed in blue jeans, a scarf and a coat, along with a black face mask as she navigated the shop.

Sweet love notes

Love notes reveal the couple's deep affection for each other. The pair, who tied the knot in 1991, expressed their feelings through these charming handwritten messages, with the legendary actor consistently signing off with: "Love, G." Whilst the exact date of the notes remains uncertain, Gene is shown to have written these heartfelt messages to his "lovely girl" Betsy. One note read: "Morning, lovely girl, thinking of you and the other little guys. Love G."

In another note, Gene seems to acknowledge his health challenges, yet attempts to inject some humour into the situation. He penned: "Ho, Ho, I am off to see the Wizard, the Wizz of Achie, Pokie. She stabs me here and stabs me there, she stabs me almost everywhere (almost). But I'll survive because after I am still alive. (But sometimes just barely). Love G." In another, he wrote: "I'm going down to that building out past the hot water place where you sit, and do whatever it is that people are supposed to do in such a building - maybe I'll remember once I get down there."

Rat infestation

A health inspection conducted by the New Mexico Department of Public Health, a week after the couple's bodies were found, uncovered dead rodents and their nests in 'eight detached outbuildings' on the Hackman property. This reportedly turned their $ 4 million estate into a 'breeding ground' for the deadly hantavirus, according to TMZ. Usually, the fatal hantavirus spreads through rodent urine and droppings that people subsequently encounter. Droppings were found in three garages, two casitas, and three sheds across Gene and Betsy's sprawling estate.

According to the American outlet, inspectors discovered a live rodent, a dead rodent and a rodent nest in three further garages. The health inspection was undertaken to protect first responders or anyone else who might enter the property from the virus.

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