A representative for the estate of actor Gene Hackman is seeking to prevent the public release of autopsy and investigative reports concerning the recent deaths of Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa. Their bodies, partially mummified, were discovered at their New Mexico home last month. Hackman, aged 95, passed away due to heart disease with complications from Alzheimer’s disease, while his 65-year-old wife succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The couple’s bodies were found on February 26, a week after Hackman’s pacemaker last showed signs of activity on February 18. The representative has filed a request to seal records to safeguard the family’s privacy rights, citing the potentially disturbing nature of the investigation materials. The couple had lived a private life in Santa Fe for over thirty years, away from the public eye. While New Mexico’s open records law protects sensitive images and certain medical information, there is a debate over the transparency and accountability of withholding investigative records. The involvement of hantavirus adds a public health dimension to the case. The request to bar the release of records on constitutional grounds is considered uncommon. Gene Hackman, a renowned Hollywood actor, and Betsy Arakawa, a former concert pianist, had a discreet lifestyle in Santa Fe, where they resided following Hackman’s retirement from acting.
