Former FBI agent Maureen O’Connell emphasized the potential value of security camera footage in clarifying the timeline and circumstances surrounding the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa. During a Fox News interview, she noted that cameras could help investigators determine whether anyone else entered or exited the couple’s Santa Fe property during the period between Hackman’s suspected cardiac arrest (recorded by his pacemaker on February 17) and the discovery of their bodies on February 26[8].
O’Connell highlighted that such footage might resolve lingering questions about the sequence of events, including whether Arakawa attempted to assist Hackman before her own collapse and whether external factors contributed to their deaths[8]. While authorities have not confirmed the presence of security systems at the home, O’Connell’s analysis underscores the role modern technology often plays in reconstructing timelines during isolated incidents involving elderly individuals[8].
The investigation remains ongoing, with toxicology results pending and no official ruling on the cause of death[4][8].
