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New Mexico Court Reviews Estate’s Request to Seal Investigation Records of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa
SANTA FE, N.M. — A court in New Mexico is currently deliberating on a request to prevent the public release of various records tied to the investigation surrounding the deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa. The couple’s estate has sought this action to uphold their privacy rights.
Judge Matthew Wilson of Santa Fe has scheduled a hearing for Monday, where estate representative Julia Peters will advocate for the sealing of sensitive materials, including photographs, video footage, and documents. The court has enacted a temporary hold on these records until the hearing takes place.
The remains of Hackman and Arakawa were discovered in their Santa Fe residence on February 26. Reports indicate that maintenance personnel contacted the police upon finding them. Hackman, aged 95, reportedly passed away from heart disease complicated by Alzheimer’s disease shortly after Arakawa, who died at 65 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease transmitted by rodents.
New Mexico’s open records law currently restricts public access to certain sensitive materials, specifically those that depict deceased individuals. Legal experts assert that some medical details may not fall under the purview of public disclosure as per the state’s Inspection of Public Records Act.
In her request, Peters underscored the potentially distressing nature of the materials involved in the investigation and the risks associated with their public release by media outlets.
The estate’s legal action also seeks to prevent the release of autopsy findings from the Office of the Medical Investigator as well as death investigation documents issued by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.
Typically, under state law, death investigations and autopsy reports are accessible public records, aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in governmental processes.
While law enforcement officials have managed to clarify the circumstances surrounding the couple’s deaths during a March 7 news conference, they withheld many written and photographic materials related to the case.
Additionally, one of the couple’s three dogs, a kelpie mix named Zinna, was also found deceased in a crate, raising further questions about the conditions leading up to the couple’s passing. The other two dogs were located alive.
The written motion to seal the documents points out that Hackman and Arakawa greatly valued their privacy and actively took measures to protect it during their lives, especially after relocating to Santa Fe, a city regarded as a sanctuary for notable figures in the arts.
Arakawa did not have any children; however, Hackman has three children from a previous marriage. The management of the estate following their deaths is entrusted to Peters. In 2005, Hackman revised his will to leave his estate to Arakawa, who similarly designated Hackman as the beneficiary of her estate.
Currently, there is a proposal for the appointment of a trustee to oversee the management of assets held in two associated trusts. Without the trust documents available for public review, the specifics regarding beneficiaries and asset distribution remain ambiguous.
Legal professionals specializing in estate planning in New Mexico suggest that if disputes arise over the estate’s assets, additional information might be uncovered. However, even in such scenarios, it is likely that involved parties would request the court to keep documentation sealed.
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