Movies

Gene Hackman’s Estate Fights to Keep Disturbing Death Scene Photos Under Wraps!

BBG News

It’s said that the estate of the deceased actor Gene Hackman, along with his wife Betsy Arakawa, is making efforts to conceal distressing images of the location where they passed away from public view.

On February 26, the bodies of two individuals were discovered in different rooms of their house located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. However, further investigations revealed that Arakawa passed away around February 11 at the age of 65, while Hackman died a few days later on February 18 at the age of 95.

Currently, his estate is trying to prevent the disclosure of the autopsy reports and investigative notes, as reported by the Associated Press.

According to reports, Hackman’s estate is strongly resistant to the dissemination of images from the incident site, along with footage captured by police bodycams.

The photos and videos might show scenes of Hackman and Arakawa’s deceased bodies, along with how their house appeared in the time following their demise, over a span of several weeks.

It was eventually concluded that it’s highly probable Arakawa passed away due to respiratory issues stemming from the infectious hantavirus, which is carried by rodents.

Or, in a shorter form:
The hantavirus contracted from rodents likely caused Arakawa’s respiratory death.

Though the condition, which produces flu-like symptoms, is rare, it can also be deadly.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it has a 38 percent death rate.

Hackman is believed to have died around a week later, likely from heart disease.

He also showed ‘evidence of advanced Alzheimer’s disease.’ 

On Tuesday, Julia Peters, standing in as a representative for the Hackman and Arakawa family estate, requested the Santa Fe state district court to maintain confidentiality over documents pertaining to the investigation, in order to safeguard the privacy of the family.

She referred to safeguards provided by the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution, and underscored the possibly disturbing character of any images or footage that might emerge during the inquiry.

In the statement made by Peters, it’s mentioned that Hackman and Arakawa led a model private life for more than three decades in Santa Fe, New Mexico, keeping their lifestyle out of the spotlight.

It is possible that the images are not accessible to the general public because New Mexico’s open records law prohibits sharing of sensitive pictures.

As stated by Amanda Lavin, who serves as the legal director at the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, this encompasses photographs of deceased individuals.

In New Mexico, the Inspection of Public Records Act could potentially be used by the couple’s estate to withhold specific medical information from public disclosure.

Regardless, Lavin informed AP that since the records involved in a death investigation and autopsy are typically classified as public documents in the state, it might not be possible for the estate to prevent the disclosure of all details.

Lavin stated to AP on Thursday that it seems questionable if the court were to prevent disclosure of all investigation reports, including autopsy findings. He believes this transparency is crucial because it maintains accountability during the conduct of these investigations.

She additionally pointed out that the disclosure of this information might raise a potential public health issue, given that Arakawa was said to have passed away due to the potentially fatal and uncommon Hantavirus.

Also on Thursday, the couple’s wills were revealed. 

The award-winning actor passed on an $80 million estate in Hollywood to his wife Betsy, who was designated as the trust’s successor. It is unknown if his three children from a previous marriage – Christopher Allen (age 65), Leslie Anne (age 58), and Elizabeth Jean (age 62) – received anything according to his will.

Leaving out his formerly estranged children could lead to a potential court dispute about his inheritance.

A legal authority shared with DailyMail.com that if he had passed away before her (Betsy), the situation could have escalated into a significant conflict or dispute.

‘His kids would’ve probably gone crazy.’ 

According to her last wishes, Betsy assigns her possessions to a trust fund. This trust is intended for donations to charities and for repaying outstanding medical bills.

2005 saw the signing of a new will by Hackman, who appeared to have Alzheimer’s at that time. The precise moment when he received the diagnosis for his progressive brain disorder remains uncertain.

Information about the examination concerning the mysterious deaths of Gene and Betsy became public on Friday, provided by authorities in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They were discovered deceased in different parts of their house on February 26th.

As a devoted follower, I’m compelled to share the news that Arakawa passed away approximately on February 11, apparently due to a scarcely prevalent mouse-borne virus. On the other hand, it seems that Hackman sadly took his last breath around February 18, presumably from heart disease.

Lawyer Julia Peters has been named executor for both wills; however, it’s uncertain how the estates will be distributed without access to the Trust document.

Previously, Gene managed a different revocable trust named GeBe Revocable Trust. However, in 1994, he utilized his power of appointment to appoint Betsy as the Successor Trustee. This change took effect on September 22, 1995.

At some point, Gene made another change, and the Avalon Trust was made the Successor Trustee.

In essence, the earlier trust arrangement was significant because it might have named his children as potential recipients, even before he revised it in 1994, thereby appointing Betsy as the new trustee.

Additionally, it was pointed out that the significant choice made by Gene’s son, Chris, in retaining Andrew M. Katzenstein – a well-known trust and estate lawyer from California – is worth mentioning.

‘By hiring Katzenstein, it shows that he [Chris] is definitely trying to protect his interests.’

As a lifestyle advisor, observing Chris’ recent acquisition of a high-powered attorney piques my curiosity. It seems unusual to me that his daughters aren’t also represented by legal counsel in this situation. This discrepancy suggests to me that some potential issues may be on the horizon.

‘Whatever they collect from the estate will be managed by Avalon,’ the source added. 

If Betsy’s spouse predeceases her, she intends for the remainder of her estate to be managed by her appointed representative as a trustee. This trust should be used to support charitable causes that benefit the community, aligning with the philanthropic inclinations and wishes that Betsy and her spouse shared during their lives.

According to the document, all my outstanding debts that can be enforced by law will be settled as quickly as possible following my demise.

According to Betsy’s will, there may be a separate inventory detailing the allocation of her personal possessions such as furniture, jewelry, and artworks.

Hackman’s dedication to the alluring world of Hollywood strained his personal relationships, leading to a separation from his wife Faye and occasional absence during their children’s upbringing.

He had grown distant from Christopher, acknowledging that he was often absent during his son’s formative years when he required more attention and guidance.

It appears that he regularly interacted with Leslie and Elizabeth, often seen by others when they accompanied him to movie premieres and Hollywood functions.

However, Hackman has admitted that his children experienced a challenging childhood, as they often grappled with the weight of his success looming overhead.

In 1991, when he got married for the second time, it was then that the family started mending. Arakawa was particularly eager to facilitate a reunion between Hackman and his children, inviting them, along with their grandchildren, to their residence in Santa Fe.

Towards the final phase of his life, it was said that Hackman enjoyed a close bond with his children and grandchildren. However, despite this, there were stretches of months where he did not meet up with Leslie, the relative who had the most frequent interactions with both him and Arakawa.

Betsy was found in a bathroom with one of the couple’s three dogs, which was dead in its crate.

The findings from the New Mexico Medical Examiner’s Office and the Santa Fe Police Department provided clarity on several queries that arose following the discovery of the couple’s remains by a community caretaker in their gated property.

Additionally, they might help determine how the couple’s possessions are divided – this includes their $3.8 million house in Santa Fe, as well as other assets totaling approximately $80 million, as reported by celebritynetworth.com.

The lack of heirs in Arakawa’s case might affect the distribution of any inheritance that Hackman’s sons and daughters might get. Notably, Arakawa, who hails from Hawaii and is an accomplished pianist, did not have any children.

It’s crucial that we consider when the pair passed away. This is significant because, according to New Mexico law, if they had died within a 120-hour window, their deaths would be categorized as ‘occurring at the same time.’

This may have impacted how the estates of Hackman and Arakawa were divided.

However, since investigations revealed that Hackman survived for a week following his wife’s death, as indicated by his pacemaker records, the stipulated provisions wouldn’t be applicable. As a result, his estate might be distributed among his beneficiaries excluding Arakawa, according to experts.

In many states like New Mexico, there’s typically a preset timeframe of five days within which a person is deemed to have survived according to most wills, as stated by Kevin Holmes of Holmes Law Firm to DailyMail.com.

In the upcoming weeks, there could be several uncertainties that may arise, as stated by John Budagher, an attorney from Budagher & Tann.

According to Budagher, the money is yours to do with as you please. You have the freedom to donate it to any recipient, even a donkey sanctuary located in Connecticut.

A significant point might be the time when a person like Hackman, who has Alzheimer’s and is deteriorating, signed any will or legal documents, since any recent revisions made to these documents could potentially be questioned.

According to Budagher, simply being more recent doesn’t make something invalid. Instead, it could be more susceptible to a possible challenge, particularly when actions such as assigning everything to a caretaker are involved.

Additionally, it’s unclear if Hackman and Arakawa had any pre-marital or post-marital contracts, and whether any children or possible heirs might contest the inheritance of the estate.

While it’s possible that something might occur soon, the entire situation may stretch out for quite some time, considering that, under New Mexican legislation, individuals have as long as three years after someone’s passing to submit a probate petition.

Hackman’s two daughters and granddaughter, Annie, have issued a statement expressing their deep sadness following his passing.

The statement read, ‘To millions worldwide, he was renowned for his exceptional acting career that earned him love and respect. Yet, to us, he was simply Dad and Grandpa.’

Leslie shared with DailyMail.com that she had been quite close with her father, but unfortunately, they hadn’t talked for around three months leading up to his demise.

According to Santa Fe Sheriff Adam Mendoza, he is certain about the sequence of events that took place on the couple’s property. However, during his interview with reporters on Friday, he emphasized that the investigation won’t be closed until all potential leads or gaps in information, referred to as ‘loopholes’, are addressed and resolved.

Although all the deaths were determined to be natural, without any indication of internal or external injuries, Mendoza maintains that investigators have not yet concluded their inquiry.

In particular, the sheriff mentioned that officers are planning to review the couple’s mobile phone data and await the outcome of an autopsy being performed on their recently departed pet dog.

Based on a search warrant obtained by DailyMail.com, detectives seized two cellphones as part of the items found in their residence.

In the mid-1980s, Hackman and Arakawa first crossed paths at a gym in California. Shortly following this encounter, they decided to relocate to Santa Fe. Their journey together led them to tie the knot in 1991. Throughout their residency in the city, they were deeply immersed in its vibrant art community and culinary landscape.

Over the past few years, they became less frequent visitors in town due to his declining health. Before their passing, they led a secluded lifestyle, according to Mendoza.

It seemed as if both Hackman and Arakawa had unexpectedly collapsed onto the ground, and there was no evidence of injuries caused by impact.

In the bathroom, Arakawa was discovered unconscious, apparently stricken by the uncommon Hantavirus, which is typically spread by rodents. This virus is not commonly seen in the United States.

As a die-hard enthusiast, I can’t help but share my fascination with this intriguing fact: The majority of COVID-19 cases within the US are clustered in the Western regions. In the breathtaking landscapes of northern New Mexico, it’s not just the crisp air and stunning vistas that captivate me, but also the unique manner in which the virus spreads – primarily through the droppings and urine of deer mice. Isn’t nature fascinating?

Mice droppings can become airborne and spread easily when people are cleaning areas like sheds or closets that were previously inhabited by mice.

Symptoms similar to the flu may initially appear, and it could potentially progress to heart and respiratory failure. Tragically, about 38% to 50% of instances end fatally.

In the very room, the 12-year-old mixed breed Australian Kelpie named Zinna was tragically discovered lifeless within a cage.

On February 9th, Arakawa found Zinna inside a crate at a Santa Fe vet’s office. This could be the reason why the dog was discovered deceased within the same crate, as mentioned by Mendoza. It’s suspected that the dog may have perished due to lack of food.

In another part of their Southwestern-ranch, the couple’s additional canines, Bear and Nikita, managed to survive and were spotted wandering freely.

Officials mentioned that Hackman was found sprawled on the floor of a mudroom adjacent to the kitchen, with his sunglasses and walking stick close by, suggesting he might have tripped or slipped.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to clarify a point that may have been misconstrued earlier. Contrary to initial assumptions, there was no detectable presence of carbon monoxide in the bodies of the couple. This finding might come as a surprise to many who initially suspected poisoning, but it seems that the true cause behind their condition is yet to be fully understood.

In a career that spanned over five decades, starting from the 1960s, the ex-Marine, Hackman, who was recognized for his gravelly voice, showcased himself in over 80 films, both on screen and stage, as well as television productions.

In 1967, he received his initial Oscar nomination, playing the role of Clyde Barrow’s brother in the movie ‘Bonnie and Clyde’, which marked his breakthrough performance.

In 1972, he was awarded the Oscar for Best Actor due to his outstanding performance as Detective Popeye Doyle in ‘The French Connection.’ Additionally, he received another Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 1993 for his role in ‘Unforgiven.’

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2025-03-14 17:56

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