Gene Hackman’s estate requests court to block release of death investigation records

A representative from legendary Hollywood actor Gene Hackman’s estate has filed a request in court to prevent the release of autopsy reports and investigative documents related to his and his wife Betsy Arakawa’s deaths.
According to a report by the Associated Press, the estate's rep is particularly concerned about stopping the release of any photographs, police body-camera footage, or other sensitive materials from becoming public.

Hackman, who was 95 years old, and his wife, 65, were found deceased at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, last month. Authorities said that Hackman died of heart disease, with complications from Alzheimer’s disease, and it’s believed he passed away about a week after Arakawa, who reportedly died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome—a rare but serious disease spread by rodents.
Officials revealed that Hackman’s pacemaker last showed activity on February 18, indicating that he likely died that day. However, their bodies were not discovered until February 26, when maintenance workers and security staff visited the couple’s property and contacted the police. Their deaths have since raised many questions for both law enforcement and medical investigators.
Julia Peters, the representative for the Hackman estate, has asked a state district court in Santa Fe to seal the records tied to the couple’s deaths. She argued that releasing such graphic material could violate the family’s privacy during their time of grief. Citing the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Peters emphasized the emotional harm that could come from the potential media dissemination of disturbing images and videos related to the investigation.
The court petition also described the private life Hackman and Arakawa led during their more than thirty years in Santa Fe. The couple, according to the request, maintained a low profile and deliberately stayed away from the public spotlight since Hackman’s retirement from acting in the early 2000s.
However, Amanda Lavin, legal director of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, explained that under New Mexico law, most death investigation reports and autopsy findings are considered public records. These laws are designed to promote transparency and ensure accountability in government processes. Lavin stated, “I do think it does infringe on transparency if the court were to prohibit release of all the investigation records, including the autopsies.”
Lavin also pointed out that because hantavirus was involved in Arakawa’s death, there’s a public health angle to consider. She noted that while state law does block the release of certain sensitive images, such as photos of deceased people, the broader details of death investigations typically remain public under New Mexico’s Inspection of Public Records Act.
Hackman, a two-time Academy Award winner, was known for his roles in films such as The French Connection, Hoosiers, and Superman. His wife, Betsy Arakawa, originally from Hawaii, was a trained concert pianist who met Hackman in the 1980s while working at a gym in California.
As reported by AP (Associated Press), the court has yet to make a decision on the estate’s request to seal the records. The case raises important questions about the balance between personal privacy and the public’s right to government transparency.