Hollywood legend Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their New Mexico home over a month ago, yet their bodies remain unclaimed.
In a chilling twist, their beloved dog, Zinna, died trapped in a cupboard and left to die from dehydration and starvation.
Over a month after their tragic passing, the bodies of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, remain unclaimed at the Office of the Medical Examiner in New Mexico.
The couple, discovered in their Santa Fe home on 26 February, were reportedly in a state of partial mummification.
With family tensions, legal roadblocks, and unanswered questions surrounding their deaths, the tragic end of the iconic star is shrouded in mystery.
Authorities listed Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, as "unclaimed decedents" on March 24, an update that fuelled speculation about a possible estrangement between Hackman and his three children—Leslie Ann, Christopher, and Elizabeth—who all reside in California.
A grim discovery
Arakawa is believed to have died first, around February 11, due to a rare rodent-borne illness called hantavirus. Hackman, who had been battling severe Alzheimer’s, reportedly passed away a week later. However, the tragedy didn’t end there.
Their loyal 12-year-old Australian Kelpie mix, Zinna, was found dead inside a kennel hidden in a cupboard. A necropsy confirmed the dog succumbed to dehydration and starvation, a heartbreaking indication that it had been locked away with no access to food or water.
According to official reports, Elizabeth Hackman told law enforcement that Zinna’s remains should be cremated and buried alongside Arakawa.
Family dispute & legal complications
The delay in claiming the bodies has raised questions about internal family tensions and legal red tape. Hackman’s three children were from his previous marriage to Faye Maltese, and sources suggest strained relations may have played a role in the lack of action.
Hackman had reportedly left his $80 million (R150 million) fortune to Arakawa. Since she is believed to have died before him, inheritance disputes could be delaying next steps.
Arakawa’s only surviving relative, her 91-year-old mother, Yoshie Feaster, is suffering from dementia, meaning she may not have the legal capacity to make decisions regarding her daughter's remains.
A troubling end for a Hollywood icon
Despite his legendary Hollywood career, Gene Hackman’s final chapter is one of isolation, unanswered questions, and legal battles.
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