A New Mexico court is currently deliberating whether to restrict the public disclosure of records related to the investigation into the deaths of renowned actor Gene Hackman and his spouse, Betsy Arakawa. The couple’s estate, represented by Julia Peters, is seeking to seal photos, videos, and documents connected to the case to protect their family’s constitutional right to privacy. Judge Matthew Wilson from Santa Fe has scheduled a hearing for Monday to address this request and has placed a temporary hold on the release of these records until the hearing takes place.
The bodies of Hackman, aged 95, and Arakawa, aged 65, were discovered in their Santa Fe home on February 26. The discovery was made by maintenance and security staff who had entered the property. Authorities reported that Hackman passed away from heart disease with complications related to Alzheimer’s disease approximately one week after Arakawa's death. There is speculation that Hackman may not have been aware of his wife’s passing. The official cause of Arakawa's death was identified as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease transmitted by rodents.
According to New Mexico’s open records law, public access to sensitive images, particularly those depicting deceased individuals, is restricted. Legal experts indicate that certain medical information is also classified as non-public under the state’s Inspection of Public Records Act. In her appeals to seal the records, Peters highlighted the potentially shocking nature of the photographic evidence and how its publication by the media could affect the family.
Moreover, the estate is pushing to prevent the release of autopsy reports and death investigation documents from the Office of the Medical Investigator and the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office. Typically, these types of records are classified as public in order to uphold governmental transparency and accountability. During a news conference held on March 7, authorities elucidated the circumstances surrounding the couple's deaths but refrained from releasing most of the associated written and photographic materials.
In a troubling development, one of the couple's three dogs, a kelpie mix named Zinna, was also found deceased in a crate located in a bathroom closet adjacent to Arakawa. Fortunately, two other dogs were found alive. The request to seal the records underscored the couple’s desire for privacy, emphasizing that they took measures to uphold this value throughout their lives, especially after relocating to Santa Fe, a city recognized as a haven for celebrities, artists, and authors.
While Betsy Arakawa had no children, Gene Hackman is survived by three children from a previous marriage. Privacy concerns are expected to play a significant role in the settlement of the couple's estate. Probate court documents indicate that Hackman had updated his will in 2005, bequeathing his estate to Arakawa, with her will directing her estate to him. With both individuals now deceased, the management of their estate has been entrusted to Peters.
A petition is currently pending to appoint a trustee who would oversee assets in the two trusts related to the estate. However, without public access to the trust documents, the beneficiaries and the manner in which assets will be divided remain uncertain. Estate planning attorneys in New Mexico noted that more detailed information might emerge if any legal disputes arise regarding the estate's assets. Even in such cases, it is likely that the involved parties would petition the court to maintain confidentiality regarding the documents.
