Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s estate is taking steps to prevent the release of photos, videos, and police bodycam footage related to their deaths.
Lawyer Kurt Sommer filed a petition on Tuesday in state District Court in Santa Fe to block the medical investigator and the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office from releasing footage.
The petition aims to prevent the release of the couple’s autopsy and “death investigation” until their deaths can be litigated.
Sommer expressed concern that once the images are released, “the bell cannot be unrung.”
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Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s estate representative is taking action to block the release of photo and video evidence from the investigation. (Getty Images)
Sommer argued that the couple’s right to privacy outweighs the public interest in their deaths. He referenced Kurt Cobain’s case and cited a court’s refusal to release “death-scene” photographs.
“Undersigned counsel cannot think of respective harm that would come to the State and County offices from respecting the discretion of Mr. Hackman’s and Mrs. Hackman-Arakawa’s right to privacy.”
“Undersigned counsel cannot think of respective harm that would come to the State and County offices from respecting the discretion of Mr. Hackman’s and Mrs. Hackman-Arakawa’s right to privacy,” he stated.
“During their lifetime, the Hackmans placed significant value on their privacy and took affirmative, vigilant steps to safeguard it.
“Mr. and Mrs. Hackman were members of this community, not part-time casual residents. The Personal Representative seeks to continue to preserve their privacy following their tragic death and uphold the family’s constitutional right to remembrance and desire to grieve in peace.”
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa Hackman died in their home in Santa Fe in February. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Sommer had no comment for Fox News Digital.
The Associated Press reported that the petition detailed Gene and Betsy’s discreet lifestyle in Santa Fe.
The deceased “lived an exemplary private life for over thirty years in Santa Fe, New Mexico and did not showcase their lifestyle,” according to the petition.
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Gene and Betsy’s estate is represented by Julia Peters, a partner and chief counsel for the Avalon Trust Co. investment firm.
According to the petition, Peters was Hackman’s third choice of estate representative. According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, Betsy was Gene’s first choice, and his second choice was attorney Michael G. Sutin. Sutin died in 2019.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department confirmed during a press conference that Betsy likely died Feb. 11, and Gene most likely died one week later.
Betsy died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, New Mexico officials told reporters. Gene died from hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributing factor.
Betsy most likely died a week before Gene, according to officials. (Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)
Feb. 18 was the last day activity was recorded on Gene’s pacemaker. The device noted an “abnormal rhythm of atrial fibrillation.”
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Gene’s autopsy showed “severe heart disease, including multiple surgical procedures involving the heart, evidence of prior heart attacks, and severe changes of the kidneys due to chronic high blood pressure.”
“Examination of the brain showed advanced Alzheimer’s disease as well as blood vessel changes in the brain secondary to chronic high blood pressure,” according to Chief Medical Investigator Dr. Heather Jarrell.
Gene Hackman’s pacemaker last showed activity on Feb. 18. (Dreamworks/Everett Collection)
Authorities determined Betsy died on or around Feb. 11 based on her activity and communication. She had email conversations on the morning of Feb. 11 before going out and returning to the community around 5:15 p.m.
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“Based on the circumstances, it is reasonable to conclude that [Betsy] passed away first, with Feb. 11 being the last time that she was known to be alive,” Jarrell said.
Fox News Digital’s Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report.
