Recommendations of the Editorial team
A number of letters and notes give an insight into the life of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa, which is part of the investigation your tragic Death Published at the beginning of this year. That reports the Los Angeles Times .
At the time of his death, Hackman suffered from Alzheimer’s. Arakawa was his main caregiver. The notes between the two not only offer an insight into the relationship of a long -time couple (they married in 1991). But also show the challenges that Alzheimer brings with them both for those affected and for their caregivers.
For example, Arakawa wrote detailed notes on Hackman’s medication and doctor’s appointments. In addition, she often left Hackman in the house in which she told him where she was or what she was doing. For example, that she brought one of her dogs to dog training or did yoga.
“Love What’s his name”
Hackman’s notes, on the other hand, show that the actor had preserved his humorous sense of humor, which was lightly and occasionally self -ironic. He told Arakawa of a visit to the doctor – which he often referred to as “Lovely Girl” – that he “has to go to the magician. To the magician of performance. She stings me here. She stabs me there almost everywhere. But I will survive. After all, I am still alive (but sometimes just.)”
In another letter, Hackman even seemed to recognize his declining memory and joke about it. “I go to the building behind the hot water room. Where you sit and do whatever you do in such a building. Maybe I can think of it again when I’m there,” he wrote.
While Hackman often signed his letters with “Love G”, he signed it with “Love What’s his name” (love, what’s called?).
Nevertheless, his notes occasionally indicated more difficult moments. Like, for example, when he congratulated Arakawa for his birthday and wrote to her: “Sorry for dinner again. And that I had to ask you for help. Even if I really appreciated it.”
No photos or videos of the couple’s corpses
Together with the letters, the authorities of Santa Fe, who examine the death of Hackman and Arakawa, published new photos of the couple’s house, recordings of police cameras and an environmental assessment. Hackman’s estate had previously an injunction Get to seal all documents in connection with the investigation. But a judge raised this decision later on the condition on that no photos or videos of the couple’s corpses may be shown.
Hackman and Arakawa were in February found dead in her house in Santa Fe. A coroner finally found that they had died about six days in a row. Arakawa probably died on February 11th Hantavirus syndrome. A rare but fatal respiratory disease that is transmitted by rodents. The environmental assessment published this week showed that rodent crops, nests and dead rodents were found on the property of the couple. But not in the main house. Hackman died on February 18th on a heart disease, with his advanced Alzheimer disease also playing a role.