The estate of actor Gene Hackman has filed a petition in a Santa Fe state district court to prevent the release of autopsy reports, photographs, and police body-cam footage associated with the recent discovery of Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, at their New Mexico home. The couple's bodies were found late last month, and it was determined they had been deceased for some time prior to their discovery.
Julia Peters, representing the estate, emphasized the need to protect the family's privacy rights under the 14th Amendment, citing the graphic nature of the materials which could be disseminated widely if released to the media. The petition highlighted that Hackman and Arakawa valued their private life, having lived discreetly in Santa Fe for over three decades.
Recent reports indicate that Arakawa died from hantavirus, a disease linked to rodent feces, around February 11. Hackman, who had been suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s disease and relied on Arakawa for care, is believed to have passed shortly thereafter, with his last recorded pacemaker activity showing an irregular heart rhythm on February 18. His autopsy revealed multiple health issues, including severe heart disease.
Additionally, there has been speculation regarding the disposition of Hackman's estimated $80 million estate, as neither of his three children—Christopher, Leslie, and Elizabeth—are named in his will. Instead, Arakawa was designated as the sole beneficiary in 1995. If the estate does not go to his children, it is stipulated to go to charity. Christopher has reportedly engaged a California trust and estate attorney to navigate the situation.