Santa Fe, New Mexico – The bodies of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, who were found deceased in their New Mexico home, remain unclaimed more than a month after their shocking deaths, as reported by officials from the Office of the Medical Examiner in New Mexico. The couple’s names appeared on the list of unclaimed decedents on March 24 and still remain there, suggesting that their families have yet to claim them for burial or other arrangements.
While the reason for the delay in claiming the bodies is unclear, it is possible that the families are still finalizing funeral arrangements or other matters. Gene Hackman, known for his iconic roles in various films, is survived by three children from his previous marriage to Faye Maltese – son Christopher Hackman and daughters Leslie Hackman and Elizabeth Hackman. Their relationship with Gene was described as strained, with Leslie mentioning that she had not been in contact with her father for a couple of months prior to his passing.
After Gene and Arakawa’s deaths, it was revealed that the actor had left his estimated $80 million fortune to his wife in his will. With Arakawa’s passing preceding Gene’s by about a week, the fate of the inheritance remains uncertain, potentially leading to a legal battle between Christopher and his sisters as beneficiaries. Furthermore, Arakawa, who had no children of her own, had designated her assets to a trust that would pay off her medical debts before distributing the remaining funds to various charities.
The grim discovery of the couple’s partially mummified bodies in separate rooms of their home on February 26 shocked many. Gene Hackman’s cause of death was attributed to hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with evidence of advanced Alzheimer’s disease playing a contributory role. In contrast, Arakawa likely succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease transmitted by rodents. The specifics of their deaths shed light on the challenges faced by the couple in their final days.
As the saga of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s unclaimed bodies continues, the public remains intrigued by the mysteries surrounding their deaths, their estate, and the complexities of their relationships with their loved ones. The lingering questions underscore the complexities of human life and the intricacies of family dynamics, leaving a lasting impression on those who followed the couple’s lives and careers in the limelight.