Gene Hackman's Will Leaves $80 Million Fortune to Late Wife
Details regarding Gene Hackman's will have emerged, causing uncertainty about its future, US Weekly reported. A recent report from the Daily Mail, released on March 13, reveals that Hackman bequeathed his $80 million fortune to his recently deceased wife, Betsy Arakawa. Betsy, who served as the successor trustee, passed away just a week before Hackman. It's currently unclear whether any other individuals are named in the will.
Reports indicate that Hackman's will remains unchanged since June 2005. Some sources speculate that with Arakawa's passing, the inheritance may revert to Hackman’s three children: Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58, from his late ex-wife, Faye Maltese. The Daily Mail also noted that Christopher has sought legal advice from an estate attorney.
On February 27, Us Weekly confirmed the deaths of 95-year-old Hackman and 64-year-old Arakawa at their home in Santa Fe. After a week of unanswered questions surrounding their deaths, New Mexico's chief medical examiner, Dr. Heather Jarrell, provided clarity on the causes. She stated, "Mrs. Hackman died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The cause of death is natural." Arakawa reportedly passed away on the evening of February 11.
Dr. Jarrell indicated that Hackman likely died a week later, on February 18, due to hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease complicated by Alzheimer’s disease. Following the incident, Hackman’s estate has filed a legal petition aimed at securing sensitive details around the investigation of their deaths. The petition, filed on March 11, states that a preliminary injunction is essential to protect the privacy of Mr. Hackman and Ms. Arakawa-Hackman’s estates.
According to the filing, Hackman and Arakawa "valued their privacy significantly and proactively took precautions to protect it." Consequently, the estate seeks to receive similar consideration regarding death-related details, particularly concerning photographs and videos from the investigation, including body-cam footage.
Amanda Lavin, the legal director at the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, commented on the petition. She highlighted its potential impact on public accountability. "It would infringe on transparency if the court prohibited the release of all investigation records, including autopsies," she told the Associated Press. "The purpose of those records being accessible is to guarantee accountability in investigations."
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