Gene Hackman dead at 95: Iconic actor and wife, 63, are found dead with their dog at Santa Fe home. #3

[ClearAhead]

This is the same as when Ashley Judd had to petition the court to keep the body cam footage and family interviews at the scene of her mother's suicide from being made public.

Nobody needs to see this stuff.

Yes, it’d be prudent to error on the side of caution. I noticed the media is abiding by the temp restraining order which prevented photos/video of the inside of the home. Only the exterior by the garage has been published.

TMZ Posts, Then Removes, Liam Payne Death Photos After Backlash

Though the site is known to push ethical boundaries in obtaining its traffic-friendly scoops, it's a line that even it does not typically cross.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

“Though the site is known to push ethical boundaries in obtaining its traffic-friendly scoops, it's a line that even it does not typically cross.”

​

 

[SophieRose]

Gene Hackman's money issues and one movie he felt 'forced' to make

Hollywood icon Gene Hackman, who won many awards throughout his career, was once in financial trouble and had to take on a movie to quickly make money

www.mirror.co.uk

Gene also once revealed he was 'seven million bucks in debt' in an interview from 2000. He revealed: “I used to have to borrow my daughter’s car to go to interviews in Hollywood. Just a piece-of-s*** Toyota… I was six, seven million bucks in debt; I had spent too much and I had a lot of tax shelters that didn’t work.

"I owed the government four million dollars. I was just barely hanging in, taking pretty much anything that was offered to me and trying to make it work."

 

[LadyL]

at 1:35, is that a cloth doll leaning against a tree?
probably not relevant, just a curiosity

 

[Charlot123]

I have left a bag on the counter overnight before. It's not something I do daily or even weekly. I've got lots of counter space though and certainly have done it more than once. (So has my sister and my sister-in-law.) Perhaps I'm the only one on WS who has but I don't see it as a big deal at all. And in BA's case since we have no idea what was in the bags except there was a bag of dog food, it is less of a big deal.to.me. Maybe it was a big deal for BA to do it at all but apparently the dog food left on the counter was untouched. I guess their dogs were well-trained (which would make it safer to leave bags.)

I think initially it may have seemed like a big deal to the investigators on the scene because some of the personnel involved in the case very likely thought BA came home on the 11th, left the full bags, went into the bathroom and then fell down & died. Obviously that didn't happen since she made multiple telephone calls the next morning.

Seems we'll never know why BA did it or if she'd ever done it before.
MOO

I just think, what do we know about how hantavirus affects people mentally? Perhaps BA was initially merely tired. Even organized people could leave something overnight when feeling weak.

 

[NCWatcher]

I just think, what do we know about how hantavirus affects people mentally? Perhaps BA was initially merely tirved. Even organized people could leave something overnight when feeling weak.

That's all very true. And as I said in my original post on this topic, we don't really know BAs daily habits nearly as well as we seem to think we do. She may have been very organized, she may have disliked clutter, & she may have kept the interior of that larger house tidy without additional help. But as you say, we don't know what effects of the hantavirus she was experiencing by that point. We also know she told the doctor's staff GH was experiencing some difficulty earlier in Feb and in January.

The people who spoke to her level of organization (the dog trainer, the "contractor" and so on) didn't live in the house. They can't know everything she did or didn't do on a daily basis in the privacy of her own home either.
MOO

 

[Cherwell]

at 1:35, is that a cloth doll leaning against a tree?
probably not relevant, just a curiosity

Possibly a dog toy.

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

I hope someone who knows more than I will explain about FOIA laws. The records of LE can be requested and under law they must produce them since the government works for the People. So it isn’t LE making that call, it’s someone else — unless a judge intervenes. Just wanted to stand up for my NM LE teams who I’ve been very proud of in this situation.

 

[al66pine]

NM Inspection of Public Records Act (NM IPRA)

I hope someone who knows more than I will explain about FOIA laws. The records of LE can be requested and under law they must produce them since the government works for the People. So it isn’t LE making that call, it’s someone else — unless a judge intervenes. Just wanted to stand up for my NM LE teams who I’ve been very proud of in this situation.

@MrsEmmaPeel ^ has the right idea about the gen'l principle.
Not sure what specific records ^ refers to, but I suppose it's Sheriff's vids of officers & others at Hackman & Arakawa property outside the home?

Did a person or media outlet submit a NM IPRA request to Sheriff? Presumably. Did SF County Sheriff's release of those vids comply w NM applicable statutory requirements? Could he have refused?

Practically speaking, if sheriff had concerns about the request (whether required to provide vids or whether vids fell w'in an IPRA exception), imo likely that he communicated w someone in an appropriate position to advise.

An IPRA section lists exceptions, IOW records which an agency is not required to provide on request:

"(D) law enforcement records that reveal confidential sources, methods, information or individuals accused but not charged with a crime. Law enforcement records include evidence in any form received or compiled in connection with any criminal investigation or prosecution by a law enforcement or prosecuting agency, including inactive matters or closed investigations to the extent that they contain the information listed [above]; "** (bbm ibm)

Based on ^, seems Sheriff could have denied an IPRA request for those vids, on the basis there were connected to a criminal investigation, that is, if it was still an active crim investigation. Sheriff's release of those vids suggests that his office is not now (no longer?) considering the vids to have been connected to a crim investigation.

IIRC atty's involved in judicial proceedings re Hackman & Arakawa probate estate filed to seek ct order prohibiting Sheriff (& NM OfcMedInvestigator) from releasing certain reports & images re investigations. Wasn't that filed after Sheriff released the vids?

Jmo. Welcoming other interp's or info here.
_____________________________________
* Genly on request, gov't entity is obligated to allow inspection and/or provide copy of that entities' records, but there are many exceptions & exemptions under fed & state laws.
BTW FOIA is fed. statute, applicable to fed agencies.
NM "Inspection of Public Records Act" applies to NM state agencies, counties, municipalities, etc.
NMSA §§ 14-2-1 to 14-2-12
2024 New Mexico Statutes :: Chapter 14 - Records, Rules, Legal Notices, Oaths :: Article 2 - Inspection of Public Records :: Section 14-2-1 - Right to inspect public records; exceptions.

** A plain language excerpt from rcfp.org re NM IPRA:
"The New Mexico Supreme Court held that this IPRA exception does not create a “blanket exception from inspection for law enforcement records relating to an ongoing criminal investigation.”"

New Mexico

The Open Government Guide summarizes the legal landscape for open meeting and open records laws in New Mexico. Compare your state’s laws.

www.rcfp.org

 

[Joe Friday]

The request (petition) to not release video pertained only to actual photos and videos of the bodies, the interior of the house and the deceased dog. Any photos or footage from outside of the house was not blocked from being released. As of now any request for photos or video under the FOIA showing the bodies, inside the home or the deceased dog would be denied due to the court approved petition.

In time the blocked photos and video may be released, but I don't really see any reason why someone would want to view it unless they had some morbid curiosity fetish. I don't think any legit MSM outlet would publish the photos or video for the public to view even if the images were blurred and the only ones seeking to gain would be those on the dark web.

JMO



The estate of Hackman and Arakawa filed a legal petition on March 11 attempting to block the release of photos and videos of the pair's bodies, the inside of the home, or their dog who died. A judge has temporarily blocked investigators from releasing the images.

Bodycam video shows deputies arriving at Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s home

“Something is not right,” a witness told the responding deputies.

www.today.com

 

[al66pine]

Sheriff's Vids of H-A Property Exterior

The request (petition) to not release video pertained only to actual photos and videos of the bodies, the interior of the house and the deceased dog. Any photos or footage from outside of the house was not blocked from being released. As of now any request for photos or video under the FOIA showing the bodies, inside the home or the deceased dog would be denied due to the court approved petition.

In time the blocked photos and video may be released, but I don't really see any reason why someone would want to view it unless they had some morbid curiosity fetish. I don't think any legit MSM outlet would publish the photos or video for the public to view even if the images were blurred and the only ones seeking to gain would be those on the dark web.

JMO



The estate of Hackman and Arakawa filed a legal petition on March 11 attempting to block the release of photos and videos of the pair's bodies, the inside of the home, or their dog who died. A judge has temporarily blocked investigators from releasing the images.

Bodycam video shows deputies arriving at Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s home

“Something is not right,” a witness told the responding deputies.

www.today.com

@Joe Friday Thanks for your post plus quote & link w more specific info about the petition and hpthe judge's order.

 

[Susikatze]

at 1:35, is that a cloth doll leaning against a tree?
probably not relevant, just a curiosity

Probably a dog toy.

 

[Joe Friday]

at 1:35, is that a cloth doll leaning against a tree?
probably not relevant, just a curiosity

Perhaps one of Betsy's former dogs is buried in that area and the dogs favorite toy was placed there as a shrine.

 

[SophieRose]

Different body cam footage, longer, lots of info.

Around 17:04 it sounds like the caretaker says the windows were open because of the mice.

He also says they used to live in Santa Fe about half the year ntil about four or five years ago (Covid or Gene's age or both?) and he would take care of the house when they were gone. He doesn't say where their other house was but I suspect it was up in the Pacific Northwest. I read an article they owned their own private island, Fawn Island in the San Juans in Washington State. It was sold in 2008 and they bought a bigger island in the Gulf Islands off British Columbia.

 

[ClearAhead]

This is possibly the source -

Inside Washington's Hidden Island, Once Owned by a Hollywood Legend

A peek at the 2.3-acre private island in WA State that you probably didn't know about!

610kona.com

“Even though he lived a life in the public eye, Hackman enjoyed his privacy when not involved in projects. That may have been the driving factor for his purchase of a small Washington State island nestled in Deer Park Marina. When Hackman purchased the tiny parcel of land known as Fawn Island is unknown……

….Rumor has it, the sale was necessary due to Hackman's shift from the screen to the written word, becoming a novelist and releasing his first book in 2000. One account has Hackman and his wife selling the island in 2005, while another places the property transfer around 2008.

While it was somewhat public knowledge that the actor extraordinaire owned Fawn Island, once sold, he purchased a different island off the coast of British Columbia. That sale was kept intentionally secret between the parties, so its location isn't well known. It it's believed Hackman owned that property until his recent passing.”

 

[SophieRose]

This is possibly the source -

Inside Washington's Hidden Island, Once Owned by a Hollywood Legend

A peek at the 2.3-acre private island in WA State that you probably didn't know about!

610kona.com

“Even though he lived a life in the public eye, Hackman enjoyed his privacy when not involved in projects. That may have been the driving factor for his purchase of a small Washington State island nestled in Deer Park Marina. When Hackman purchased the tiny parcel of land known as Fawn Island is unknown……

….Rumor has it, the sale was necessary due to Hackman's shift from the screen to the written word, becoming a novelist and releasing his first book in 2000. One account has Hackman and his wife selling the island in 2005, while another places the property transfer around 2008.

While it was somewhat public knowledge that the actor extraordinaire owned Fawn Island, once sold, he purchased a different island off the coast of British Columbia. That sale was kept intentionally secret between the parties, so its location isn't well known. It it's believed Hackman owned that property until his recent passing.”

One can find pictures of Fawn Island online since it's been up for sale recently. It has a house and two guest cottages. One of the cottages operates as an Airbnb. The houses have some beautiful views but I think I would get claustrophobic in a short time.

 

[al66pine]

Another Possible Reason for Liquidating Real Estate?

This is possibly the source -

Inside Washington's Hidden Island, Once Owned by a Hollywood Legend

A peek at the 2.3-acre private island in WA State that you probably didn't know about!

610kona.com

“Even though he lived a life in the public eye, Hackman enjoyed his privacy when not involved in projects. That may have been the driving factor for his purchase of a small Washington State island nestled in Deer Park Marina. When Hackman purchased the tiny parcel of land known as Fawn Island is unknown……

….Rumor has it, the sale was necessary due to Hackman's shift from the screen to the written word, becoming a novelist and releasing his first book in 2000. One account has Hackman and his wife selling the island in 2005, while another places the property transfer around 2008.

While it was somewhat public knowledge that the actor extraordinaire owned Fawn Island, once sold, he purchased a different island off the coast of British Columbia. That sale was kept intentionally secret between the parties, so its location isn't well known. It it's believed Hackman owned that property until his recent passing.”

@ClearAhead Thanks for your post w quote & link.

Seems somewhat unexpected imo that a person living in the public eye who enjoys privacy would want to sell his private island when he is shifting gears toward new pursuits --- like writing novels.

Seems like living on a private island would be conducive to writing full time.

Tho true that he & another man co-authored several books.

Perhaps as early as 2000 - 2010, Mr. Hackman may have had trouble w memory issues & mild cognitive decline? There may not have been a ALZ. diagnosis in that period, but dealing w those symptoms may have prompted changes re lifestyle & $ holdings. Heart attack/prob before then IIRC.

If the $60 -$80 million figure thrown around now is a poss'ly. plausible figure (? IDK), seems unlikely imo that finances compelled selling the Fawn Island prop or the other mystery-island property.

Maybe over the course of 10-20 yrs, he & BA wanted to simplify their lifestyle and/or investments.

Despite the allure of a private island getaway for many, travel logistics of getting off & on the island & other impracticalities may have taken the bloom off the rose after a few years. Even when considered as a seasonal (second or third?) home or as a vacation rental for others (was that pre-airbnb & VRBO?).

Done rambling about that.
______________________________________________
Sale of Fawn Island
"Rumor has it, the sale was necessary due to Hackman's shift from the screen to the written word, becoming a novelist and releasing his first book in 2000. One account has Hackman and his wife selling the island in 2005, while another places the property transfer around 2008."

Inside Washington's Hidden Island, Once Owned by a Hollywood Legend

A peek at the 2.3-acre private island in WA State that you probably didn't know about!

610kona.com

 

[SophieRose]

I don't know if this was already posted but this was aired in 2000 and shows Gene with his then dogs on his land.

 

[SophieRose]

Another bodycam video. LE guy says he talked to woman in charge of estate and she says she talked to Betsy a couple of days ago, says that can't be right.

 

[Sundog]

I think that was very sensitive of Hackman's daughter to request that Betsy be cremated with her dog. She likely knew how close Betsy was to the dog and wanted to honor that sentiment the best way she could, given the circumstances.

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

To the person who spotted the doll in the video: according to today's Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper, the Hackman's dogtrainer, who was called to the scene to help capture the two dogs, said the Hackmans were "nuts" about their dogs and “There’s toys everywhere around the property.” So that answers that!