Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s bodies remain unclaimed weeks after they were found dead in their Santa Fe home.
Hackman and his wife Arakawa, were found dead along with one of their dogs at their New Mexico property on February 26.
A pathologist concluded Hackman died aged 95 of heart disease—with Alzheimer’s playing a significant role—a week after Arakawa died, aged 65, from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare infectious disease.
Their bodies have since been taken to the Office of the Medical Examiner in New Mexico, where they remain unclaimed.
Hackman and Arakawa, under her married name, were listed as ‘unclaimed decedents’, according to a list posted by the Medical Examiner on March 24.
According to their website, this list is updated every Monday and Friday, though an update for March 28 has not yet been published at the time of writing.
A source from the Medical Examiner told TMZ that this is not necessarily unusual, however, as it could be because the family are still making funeral arrangements.
It comes after reports Hackman’s $80million (£62m) estate could now be inherited by his three children—Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and 58-year-old Leslie—despite none being named in his will.
His will, last updated in 2005, named only Arakawa as the beneficiary. But with her death preceding his, the estate may now be subject to intestate succession laws.
California attorney Tre Lovell told the BBC: ‘The estate will actually be probated in accordance with intestate succession laws, and the children would be lawfully next in line to inherit.’
Hackman – who was last pictured in 2024 – and Arakawa tied the knot in December 1991, after dating for around seven years.
The Unforgiven superstar was discovered dead in the mudroom at their property while the musician was in a bathroom with one of their dogs.
Officers confirmed that they had been ‘dead for some time’, with their bodies showing signs of decomposition and mummification.
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The scene was bizarre enough to warrant an investigation, which found there was no carbon monoxide poisoning involved, as was originally suspected.
Hackman is thought to have died on February 18, when the last activity on his pacemaker was recorded.
Arakawa is believed to have died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome on February 11, almost a week before her husband’s death.
Metro has contacted the Office of the Medical Examiner in New Mexico for comment.
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