Court Temporarily Seals Some Records in Gene Hackman Death Investigation

A Santa Fe judge has restricted access to certain investigation files while confirming autopsy reports will remain publicly available.

Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found deceased in their Santa Fe home in February 2025, with their deaths attributed to natural causes.
Hackman, 95, died of heart disease, while Arakawa, 64, succumbed to a hantavirus infection, a rare illness linked to rodent exposure in New Mexico.
A Santa Fe court has temporarily sealed investigation materials, including photos and videos of the deceased, to protect family privacy.
Autopsy reports and other investigative documents have been made accessible to the public following the court's decision.
Hackman, a two-time Oscar-winning actor known for films like 'French Connection' and 'Unforgiven,' retired from acting in the early 2000s and lived a reclusive life in Santa Fe.