Photos of Gene Hackman’s, wife’s bodies will not be made public, New Mexico judge rules

Photos of Mummified Bodies of Gene Hackman and Wife Blocked by Judge

A New Mexico judge ruled on Monday that photos showing the mummified bodies of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa will be blocked from public view. The actor’s estate requested a restraining order to prevent the release of the images and other materials.

The Hackman estate’s representative filed a lawsuit to keep the photos, taken after Gene Hackman had been dead for a week and Betsy Arakawa for two weeks, private. The estate cited the actor’s private lifestyle and the family’s constitutional right to grieve privately.

The First Judicial Court in Santa Fe County sided with the estate, ruling that the photos will remain under wraps for the time being.

The ruling was first reported by the Daily Mail.

The mysterious circumstances of the couple’s deaths, which occurred in different rooms and a week apart, sparked speculation among fans and sleuths. Authorities later revealed that Arakawa likely died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, while Hackman, suffering from Alzheimer’s, passed away from heart complications a week later.

Although the public has not seen the state of their bodies when they were found, authorities stated that they were partially mummified in the dry, high-altitude Santa Fe climate.

One of the couple’s beloved dogs, named Zinna, was found mummified near Arakawa’s remains. The family’s petition to seal the photographs emphasized the couple’s private life and the family’s right to grieve without their post-mortem photos being made public.

New Mexico’s open records law protects sensitive images, including those of deceased individuals. Amanda Lavin, legal director at the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, explained that certain medical information is also not considered public record under state law.

While most death investigations and autopsy reports are public records to ensure government transparency, sensitive images are protected by law.

With Post wires