Photo:Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
A representative for the estate of the lateGene Hackmanand his wifeBetsy Arakawa-Hackmanis asking the court to block the release of photos, videos and police bodycam footage related to the private couple’s deaths.
The French Connectionstar, 95, and his classical pianist wife, 65 — who opted to live a quiet life in New Mexico away from the spotlight — werefound dead at their propertyin Santa Fe Summit on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
The estate is seeking to “prevent the Office of the Medical Investigator and the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office from releasing, including but not limited to, any and all photographic evidence, video evidence, and body cam footage gathered through each entity’s respective investigations into the death of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa-Hackman.”
Law enforcement officials are pictured outside Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s Santa Fe home on Feb. 27, 2025.Roberto Rosales/AP
Roberto Rosales/AP
The documents, filed at the First Judicial Court in Santa Fe County, stated the preliminary injunction was “necessary to protect the estates” of the late couple and their “right to privacy.”
“During their lifetime, the Hackmans placed significant value on their privacy and took affirmative, vigilant steps to safeguard their privacy,” the petition read.
“Accordingly, the Hackmans lived an exemplary private life for over 30 years in Santa Fe, New Mexico and did not showcase their lifestyle,” the documents stated.
They added, “Mr. and Mrs. Hackman were members of this community, not part-time casual residents. The Personal Representative seeks to continue to preserve the privacy of the Hackmans following their tragic death and support the family’s constitutional right to remembrance and desire to grieve in peace.”
The documents also stated, “The old adage, ‘The bell cannot be unrung,’ is most applicable to the instance at hand,” adding that, “Without court intervention certain unwanted photos, videos, and/or lapel videos could be released to the general public that cannot be returned to the private sphere after their disclosure.”
Betsy Arakawa and Gene Hackman.Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
Hantavirus cases are relatively rare, but are fatal in up to 42% of cases in New Mexico, said Erin Phipps, a veterinarian with the New Mexico Health Department. Phipps added that there had been less than 10 cases of hantavirus in the state in the last five years.
Meanwhile, the Oscar-winning actor died from a combination of severe heart disease, high blood pressure andadvanced Alzheimer’s disease, and waslikely alone in the homewith his dead wife for days, authorities said.
The last activity on Gene’s pacemaker was registered on Feb. 17. Heather Jarrell, New Mexico’s chief medical examiner, said it was “reasonable to conclude” that Gene, who had no food in his stomach at the time of his death, died the following day. However, the iconic actor showed no signs of dehydration.
“It is reasonable to conclude that Ms. Hackman passed first,” the chief medical examiner told reporters.
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa’s home.AP Photo/Roberto E. Rosales
AP Photo/Roberto E. Rosales
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The couple’s dog, Zinna, was also found dead, crated in a closet, a few feet away from Betsy. Two other dogs were found alive on the sprawling property.
Gene, consideredone of the finest actors of his generation, met Betsy when she was working part-time at a gym in Los Angeles and pursuing a career in classical music, per theNew York Times. By 1990, they shared a home in Santa Fe and wed the following year.
source: people.com
