More than a month after the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, their bodies remain unclaimed, according to reports. The Office of the Medical Examiner in New Mexico confirmed that the couple’s names were listed among unclaimed decedents on March 24th and remain on the list as of Thursday.
Officials from the medical examiner’s office explained that it is not unusual for bodies to remain unclaimed for several weeks following death. However, the extended period in this case has raised questions.
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s Bodies Remain Unclaimed Over a Month After Deaths
The reasons behind the delay in claiming the bodies are unclear. It is speculated that the family may be in the process of finalizing funeral arrangements and settling other related matters.
Gene Hackman is survived by his three children from his previous marriage to Faye Maltese: Christopher Hackman, Leslie Hackman, and Elizabeth Hackman. Notably, after the couple’s deaths, the daughters issued a statement that omitted Christopher’s name.
Leslie Hackman later revealed that while she maintained a close relationship with her father, she had not been in contact with him or Arakawa for a couple of months prior to their deaths. Gene Hackman had previously spoken about the complexities of his relationships with his children, admitting to being an absent father during their formative years.
Gene Hackman’s will, last updated in 2005, reportedly designated his estimated $80 million fortune to Arakawa. With her passing preceding his, the inheritance is likely to be distributed among his children. However, the ambiguity surrounding the beneficiaries could potentially lead to a legal dispute, particularly between Christopher Hackman, who has reportedly retained legal counsel, and his sisters.
Arakawa, who did not have children, had her assets designated to a trust, which will be used to settle her medical debts before being distributed to charitable organizations.
The couple’s partially mummified bodies were discovered in separate rooms of their New Mexico home on February 26th.Gene Hackman’s cause of death was attributed to hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with advanced Alzheimer’s disease as a contributing factor. He was 95. Arakawa, 65, is believed to have died on February 12th from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a rare rodent-borne disease.
