Photos of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa's bodies cannot be shown to public, judge rules

USA Today

02-04-2025

Photos of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa's bodies cannot be shown to public, judge rules
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Death timeline of Gene Hackman, wife
Gene Hackman and his wife died a week apart and from entirely different causes. No foul play is suspected in the deaths.
Photos from the death investigation of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been partially blocked from release, a New Mexico judge ruled on Monday.
During a hearing in Santa Fe court, District Judge Matthew J. Wilson placed investigation records depicting Hackman and Arakawa's bodies under seal from public view. The couple, who resided in Santa Fe, were found deceased in their home on Feb. 26.
Hackman was 95, while Arakawa was 64.
Such records include investigative photos, lapel footage gathered from police bodycams and photos from autopsy reports.
However, Wilson denied a previous preliminary injunction's ban on the release of other media records from the death investigation, such as audio, autopsy records and videos that do not depict Hackman and Arakawa's bodies.
"Injunctions are a harsh and drastic remedy, which should issue only in extreme cases of pressing necessity," Wilson said. "It is not enough that the party seeking injunctive relief merely claim irreparable harm."
The ruling comes after the First Judicial District Court in New Mexico issued a temporary restraining order against the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office and the Office of the Medical Investigator on March 17.
The order temporarily barred the disclosure of photographs or videos showing Hackman or Arakawa's bodies, the interior of their home and any lapel footage that includes their bodies or images of their deceased animals. Additionally, the order temporarily prevented the disclosure of autopsy reports or death investigation reports for Hackman and Arakawa.
Julia Peters, a representative for the estate of Hackman and Arakawa, filed the petition for the order. Hackman's children, Christopher Hackman, Elizabeth Hackman and Leslie Allen, were listed as intervenors in the case, according to a Friday motion, allowing them to file a complaint for declaratory judgment.
Read more: Photos of Gene Hackman, wife's deaths to be restricted with temporary restraining order
Gene Hackman's publicist talks potential impact of investigation photos, videos
During Monday's hearing, Hackman's longtime publicist testified on the late actor's reclusive public life.
Susan Madore, co-CEO of Guttman Associates, reflected on Hackman and Arakawa's reluctance to appear extensively in the media. Madore said the couple objected earlier this year to a proposed feature from "CBS News Sunday Morning," which would have included commentary from individuals familiar with Hackman and Arakawa. CBS scrapped the piece after learning of Hackman and Arakawa's opposition.
"When I told Gene and Betsy about it, they were horrified," Madore said. "They decided not to do the piece. They didn't want to upset Gene and Betsy."
When asked about the possible release of death investigation records depicting Hackman and Arakawa, Madore said Hackman would have been against such exposure.
"For anything like that to be out in the public, any entity can use it however they want in perpetuity," Madore said. "He would have never agreed in his life for that to happen, so why would we think he would agree to it in his death?"
Bodycam footage from Gene Hackman death investigation released
Despite the restraining order, police bodycam footage from the death investigation was released earlier this month, according to records obtained by USA TODAY on March 25.
Clips from the footage, which consists of over 20 videos, showed police speaking with witnesses about the state of Hackman and Arakawa's home, as well as the account of a contractor who entered the couple's residence and discovered Arakawa's body.
According to a search warrant affidavit, authorities found Hackman in a mudroom near his cane, appearing to have fallen, while his wife was found in an open bathroom near a space heater, with an open prescription bottle and pills scattered on the nearby countertop. A deputy observed Arakawa with "body decomposition, bloating in her face" and mummification of her hands and feet.
Gene Hackman death: Bodycam footage shows emotional maintenance worker after actor was found
A week after Hackman and Arakawa were found dead, the couple's causes of death were revealed during a press conference held by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office. New Mexico's chief medical examiner, Dr. Heather Jarrell, said the office's investigation found that Hackman died of natural causes. The Oscar-winning actor also had heart disease and complications caused by Alzheimer's disease.
Meanwhile, Arakawa died from Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease that is contracted by contact with mouse droppings.
(This story has been updated to include additional information.)
Contributing: Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY