Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were discovered dead at their Santa Fe home last month. However, the Oscar-winning actor, who died aged 95 and his spouse at 63, will be able to retain some privacy. A New Mexico judge today, granted their estate’s request to seal medical records. Also Judge Matthew Wilson has sealed all police photos and video footage of the couple’s bodies and one of their dogs when they were found on February 26.
The Enemy of the State actor, who was said to be suffering from Alzheimer’s and heart disease is believed to have died around February 18. This was almost a week after his wife Betsy, who is said to have died as a result in part of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome – a disease spread by rodents.
Judge Wilson ordered the potentially gruesome details of what was discovered in the Hackmans’ secluded home to be kept out of the public eye.
The order follows a filing last week from the Hackman estate’s Julia Peters to respect the couple’s “exemplary private life” and Constitutional rights.
According to Deadline, Judge Wilson wrote the Office of the Medical Investigator and the Sante Fe Sheriff’s office “including each entities’ agents, assigns, and employees are hereby temporarily restrained from disclosing any photographs or videos containing images of their bodies, deceased animals or interior footage of their residence.
The publication revealed a hearing is set for March 31 where the police and the University of New Mexico are to address why the now sealed images will be kept permanently under wraps.
The cause of their deaths was initially released by chief investigating officers.
Dr. Heather Jarrell previously shared: “The cause of death for Mr. Gene Hackman, aged 95 years, is hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor.
“Autopsy examination and a full body post mortem CT examination demonstrated no acute findings of internal or external trauma, and showed severe heart disease, including multiple surgical procedures involving the heart, evidence of prior heart attacks and severe changes of the kidneys due to chronic high blood pressure.”