Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead on February 26. But over a month later, it’s been revealed that their bodies are still at the coroner’s office—unclaimed by family.
The couple was discovered in their home in Santa Fe, and ever since, rumors about the cause of death have circulated online. Now, TMZ has confirmed that both names appear on the official list of unclaimed deceased persons released weekly by the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator.
Gene Hackman and Betsy Still in the Morgue
According to the list, both Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s bodies are still being held at the local morgue. When reached for comment, officials explained that it’s not uncommon for bodies to go unclaimed for a month or more, depending on the situation.
Some sources suggest the family is still handling the paperwork needed for a proper funeral. However, other reports point to long-standing family tensions as a possible reason why no one has stepped forward yet.
Hackman had three children—Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie, now in their 60s—from his first marriage to Faye Maltese. For years, the actor spoke openly about not being close to them.
Though it’s said that the children eventually reconciled with their father and even released a statement mourning his loss, insiders speculate that financial disputes may be behind the delay.
Gene Hackman reportedly left none of his estimated $80 million fortune to his children, instead leaving everything to his wife, Betsy. But with both of them now gone, it’s unclear what will happen to the money.
According to the official reports, Betsy Arakawa died after contracting hantavirus, a rare but deadly disease spread by rodents. Gene Hackman passed away a week later due to heart complications. He was also battling Alzheimer’s, and authorities believe that, due to the severity of his condition, “he may not have even realized she had passed away.”
This article was originally written in Spanish by Fernando Eslava in Cultura Colectiva.
