Gene Hackman's heartbreaking notes to wife Betsy found after tragic deaths (2025)

Notes left by Hollywood icon Gene Hackman to his wife Betsy Arakawa have been uncovered almost two months after the duo were both found dead in their Santa Fe home

Hollywood star Gene Hackman left his wife Betsy Arakawa a number of touching notes prior to their deaths in February. The duo were both found dead in the Santa Fe home in February.

However, new notes have been released which showed their devotion to each other. The pair, who married in 1991, had been communicating in the sweet handwritten messages. The actor was always seen to sign off: "Love, G."

While it's unclear the date of he notes, Gene is seen to have penned the touching messages to his "lovely girl" Betsy. One note read: "Morning lovely girl, thinking of you and the other little guys. Love G."

In another, Gene appears to have acknowledged his health struggles. However, he seems to try to make light of the situation. He wrote: "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 some times 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."

The notes come after Gene is said to have died a week later than Betsy, who died in February of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The rare, rodent-borne disease that killed Betsy can have a range of symptoms, including flu-like illness, headaches, dizziness and severe respiratory distress.

Sadly, Betsy appeared to have been searching for health information online in the lead up to her death. A review of the open bookmarks on Betsy's computer on February 8 and the morning of February 12 revealed historical searches in which she had been looking up medical conditions related to COVID-19 and flu-like symptoms.

During a press conference in March, Dr Heather Jarrell, chief medical examiner for New Mexico, revealed it was "reasonable to conclude" that Betsy died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome on February 11 at the couple’s home in Santa Fe. Gene is thought to have died a week later on February 18.

His cause of death is said to have been from "hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor", according to the expert.

Footage inside their home has shown the heartbreaking act of one of the duo's surviving dogs. New body camera footage has been revealed of the day police entered the Santa Fe property to find Betsy's body and it shows the dog guarding her.

In the 11-minute video, one of the investigators is heard saying: "Poor guy, he's sad," in reference to the dog, which sits there and waits. The house can be seen as very cluttered in the newly released footage as the dog silently sits there. It appears as though the animal is protecting its owner in the most heartbreaking way.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.