Judge Blocks Release of Photos Showing Gene Hackman and Wife's Bodies

A New Mexico court has ruled to protect the privacy of the deceased couple while allowing redacted investigation records to be released.

Gene Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were found dead in their Santa Fe home on February 26, with causes of death determined as natural causes: heart disease with Alzheimer's complications for Hackman and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome for Arakawa.
A New Mexico judge ruled on March 31 to seal photos and videos showing the couple's bodies but approved the release of redacted investigative records, including police bodycam footage and autopsy reports.
The Hackman family estate argued that releasing sensitive images would violate the couple's privacy and cause trauma to surviving family members, emphasizing their lifetime efforts to maintain anonymity.
The estate's management remains unresolved, with trust documents not yet public, raising questions about the beneficiaries of Hackman's $80 million estate.
One of the couple's three dogs was found dead due to starvation and dehydration, while two others survived; the dog’s death was also included in the investigation records.