Court Considers Sealing Investigation Records in Hackman Deaths

A New Mexico court is considering a request from the estate of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, to block the release of records related to their deaths, which were discovered in their Santa Fe home on February 26. Judge Matthew Wilson has scheduled a hearing to assess the estate's claim that releasing sensitive photos, videos, and documents would violate the family's right to privacy. Authorities confirmed that Hackman, 95, died from heart disease complicated by Alzheimer's, while Arakawa, 65, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Julia Peters, representing the estate, has expressed concerns about the shocking nature of the materials and potential media dissemination. New Mexico's open records law restricts access to certain sensitive images and medical information, but the state also emphasizes transparency in death investigations. The estate is also seeking to block the release of autopsy and investigation reports, which are typically public records.