Gene Hackman, wife feared stalker before deaths

Newly released bodycam footage has revealed that Betsy Arakawa, the wife of actor Gene Hackman, expressed concerns about being stalked in the months leading up to their deaths. Arakawa confided in her hairstylist about two incidents in December where a man followed the couple from their home in Santa Fe to various locations, including a lunch outing in White Rock. During these encounters, the man reportedly tried to get Hackman's autograph and offered them a bottle of wine, which they declined. Tragically, Hackman, 95, died from heart disease and Alzheimer's on February 26, 2025, while Arakawa, 65, succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome just a week earlier. Their family has since filed to block the release of autopsy and investigation results, a move described as “very atypical” by sources familiar with the case. The couple's deaths remain under investigation as more details about the stalking allegations emerge.