Gene Hackman and his wife’s bodies are still yet to be claimed
Once a month after their death, the bodies of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, have reportedly still not been claimed.
It was on February 26th 2025, that the bodies of actor Gene Hackman, age 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, age 65, were found at their New Mexico home, along with their dog.
Their deaths prompted mass speculation, given the circumstances surrounding it. While no foul play was suspected, their deaths were considered “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation”, according to a search warrant affidavit. The investigation quickly ruled out potential causes, such as the suggestion that a gas leak had killed the couple.
On March 8th, investigators confirmed the cause of death for both Hackman and Arakawa, ruling that both died of natural causes a week apart. Arakawa was said to have died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a respiratory illness caused by infected rodents. The data taken from Hackman’s pacemaker suggested he died on February 18th, a week after Arakawa’s passing.
However, now a month on from their deaths, their bodies are still yet to be claimed. TMZ reported that the Office of Medical Investigators in New Mexico confirmed that their names still appear on a list of unclaimed decedents as of March 27th. They believes that this is down to the family still making funeral arrangements, however, it prompts further speculation surrounding Hackman’s life at the end.
It was revealed that Hackman’s three children are not named in his will. Instead, Arakawa was the sole recipient of his fortune upon his death.
However, Hackman’s children and grandchildren did share a joint statement after his death, writing, “He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us, he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely, and are devastated by the loss.”
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