Gene Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa, had grown distant from her relatives in the months leading up to her and her husband’s tragic deaths, a housekeeper for the late classical pianist’s mother claims.
Keiko, whose last name was not revealed, told the Daily Mail Friday that Arakawa, 64, used to check in on her 91-year-old mother, Yoshie Feaster, regularly, as the latter is battling dementia.
However, she added, “Betsy hadn’t called her mother in months.”
“She usually called every one or two months,” the housekeeper further claimed. “Last time she called was October. We were thinking, what happened?”
Keiko alleged that the family became worried over Arakawa’s alleged lack of communication.
Hackman, who had three children, had reportedly become a recluse, as well, with one of his daughters claiming she hadn’t talked to the “French Connection” star in “months,” either, before he passed.
Arakawa and Hackman, 95, were found dead alongside one of their dogs inside their New Mexico home Wednesday. Police reportedly called Feaster to inform her about her daughter’s passing.
“She talked to a New Mexico policeman the other day, but she has dementia so she forgot already,” Keiko said. “I feel so sorry for her. She was very upset. But right now she’s kind of normal.”
It’s unknown whether Arakawa was dealing with mental health issues before she died. However, a search warrant revealed police found her on the floor of a bathroom with pills scattered around a countertop.
CNN reported Friday that law enforcement confiscated multiple medicines from the property, including Tylenol, a thyroid medication and Diltiazem, which is a calcium channel blocker used to treat high blood pressure or chest pain. The exact pills that were on the counter have not been identified.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said during a press conference Friday that he could not release details about those medications due to HIPAA laws, which protect a patient’s right to confidentiality.
Earlier on Friday, he said of the medication findings on “Today,” “That’s obviously very important evidence.
“We’re looking at that specifically and other medications that were possibly in the residence. So that is something of concern.”
Forensic pathologist Priya Banerjee exclusively told Page Six Friday, “What was spilled could be helpful in understanding what medical condition [Arakawa] had. The idea of suicide is always there.”
She also theorized that it is possible that Hackman died from the emotional impact of his wife’s death, adding, “You have to consider all the factors.”
Arakawa’s body was already in a state of decomposition by the time the authorities arrived, with “mummification” on her hands and feet and “bloating” in her face.
Not much is known yet about the state of Hackman’s body, but police believe he fell because his sunglasses were found next to him. He was located in a separate room in the house, near a kitchen.
Mendoza said Friday that the Hollywood star’s pacemaker tracked his “last event” on Feb. 17, which the pathologist believed could be an indicator of when Hackman was last alive.
Preliminary autopsy reports showed the couple — who had been married since 1991 — had no signs of external trauma and they both also tested “negative for carbon monoxide,” debunking Hackman’s family’s previous theory that their relatives were poisoned by a gas leak.
Mendoza pointed out that an official cause of death for Hackman and Arakawa is likely to take weeks, pending the official autopsy and toxicology test results.
Police have said from very early on that no foul play is suspected. However, the investigation is ongoing.
A spokesperson for the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office reiterated to Page Six Friday that there did not appear to have been any “criminal” activity at the scene, but nothing was “ruled out.”
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