Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's bodies remain unclaimed more than a month after their tragic deaths
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO: More than a month after their tragic deaths, the bodies of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, remain unclaimed.
Representatives for the Office of the Medical Examiner in New Mexico told TMZ on Thursday, March 27, that their list of unclaimed decedents is updated every Monday, and Hackman and Arakawa’s names have remained on it since March 24.
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's family ties and estrangements
Officials clarified that it is not unusual for bodies to go unclaimed for several weeks, but the circumstances surrounding the couple’s case remain unclear.
It is possible that their family members are still working through legal and logistical matters related to their funeral arrangements.
Hackman is survived by his three children from his first marriage to the late Faye Maltese: Christopher Hackman, 65, Leslie Hackman, 62, and Elizabeth Hackman, 58.
However, the late actor had a complicated relationship with his children.
His daughters issued a statement following his death that did not mention Christopher.
Leslie later told the Daily Mail that while she and her father “were close,” she had not spoken to him or Arakawa in months.
Hackman had previously admitted in interviews with GQ and the Irish Independent that his demanding Hollywood career strained his relationship with his children and made him an often-absent father.
Legal uncertainty over Gene Hackman’s estate
The legendary French Connection star, whose net worth was estimated at $80 million, reportedly left all his assets to Arakawa in a will that had not been updated since 2005.
However, since Arakawa died about a week before Hackman, the estate is now expected to pass to his children.
This situation could lead to a legal battle, particularly as Christopher has reportedly hired a high-powered attorney.
The division of the estate remains uncertain, potentially delaying the claiming of their bodies as legal matters unfold.
Meanwhile, Arakawa, a classical pianist who did not have children of her own, left her assets to a trust.
The funds will first be used to pay her medical debts before being distributed to various charities.
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's cause of death and chilling discovery
The partially mummified bodies of Hackman and Arakawa were found in separate rooms of their New Mexico home on February 26.
Authorities determined that Hackman died from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease at the age of 95. An examination revealed he had advanced Alzheimer’s disease, which was listed as a significant contributory factor in his death.
His pacemaker last registered activity on February 18, suggesting he died that day due to an abnormal heart rhythm.
Arakawa, 65, reportedly died on February 12 after contracting hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a rare, rodent-borne disease.
Her death likely preceded Hackman’s by nearly a week, according to Page Six.
