Gene Hackman Investigation Hits a Roadblock

Actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home on February 26, but there have been many questions surrounding their sudden death.

While some have been answered, there are still many unknowns. And it appears things will stay that way.

The U.S. Sun reports that Hackman’s family is trying to block the release of the autopsy and death investigation reports on top of wanting to block photos and video of their bodies and their Santa Fe home.

According to the source who spoke with The Sun, this is a “very atypical” move that they “have ever seen before.”

Gene Hackman Left His Children Out Of His Will

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Hackman’s will, last signed in 2005, shows that he left his entire estate to his wife Betsy Arakawa, per People. Hackman was worth an estimated $80 million when he died, CinemaBlend reported.

However, Arakawa passed away before Hackman, which now complicates things.

A legal expert spoke with People in a March 14 interview, discussing this situation.

“When you have a married couple, the issue is who dies first, and in this case, Betsy died first, so she left everything to the Gene Hackman trust. He outlives her. So he theoretically inherits from Betsy into his trust, and then when he dies, his trust goes to whoever his trust beneficiaries are,” the expert explained to People. “In this case, we don’t see who the beneficiaries are of the Gene Hackman trust because the Gene Hackman trust hasn’t been either publicly released or it’s not part of the probate proceeding. Typically though, the probate proceeding, at least in California, the trust is usually included.”

Hackman has three children — Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58 — with his first wife Faye Maltese

Gene Hackman’s Daughters and Granddaughter Released Heartfelt Tribute After His Death

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In a statement to People on February 27, Hackman’s daughters and granddaughter released a statement on his sudden passing.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy. He was loved and admired by millions worldwide 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,” Hackman’s daughters Elizabeth Hackman, Leslie Hackman and granddaughter Annie Hackman wrote.