A court has issued a temporary restraining order preventing the release of some records in the death of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa.
The First Judicial District Court in New Mexico on Monday issued a temporary restraining order against the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and the Office of the Medical Investigator. The order temporarily prevents the disclosure of photographs or videos showing Hackman or Arakawa’s bodies, the interior of their home and any lapel footage that includes their bodies or images of deceased animals at the home.
Additionally, the order temporarily prevents the disclosure of autopsy reports or death investigation reports for Hackman and Arakawa.
A court hearing to discuss the temporary order is set for March 31.
Julia Peters, a representative for the estate of Hackman and Arakawa, filed a petition for the order.
The petition argued that the order was necessary to protect the late couple’s “right to privacy,” saying that “during their lifetime, the Hackmans placed significant value on their privacy and took affirmative, vigilant steps to safeguard their privacy,” according to NBC News and People magazine.
USA TODAY has reached out to Hackman’s rep for comment.
Hackman, Arakawa and their dog were found dead at their New Mexico residence last month. Officials said foul play was not suspected. On March 7, New Mexico’s chief medical examiner said Arakawa died from Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease contracted by contact with mouse droppings. The medical examiner also said Hackman died from natural causes, noting the late actor had heart disease and complications caused by Alzheimer’s disease.
According to a search warrant released in February, the Oscar-winning actor was found in a mudroom near his cane, while Arakawa was found in a bathroom near a space heater. Arakawa was observed with “body decomposition, bloating in her face” and mummification of her hands and feet. Investigators said the scene was “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation.”
Arakawa is believed to have died first, around Feb. 11, while Hackman seemingly died about a week later, as the last activity on his pacemaker was recorded on Feb. 18. A gas leak was ruled out as the cause of death after an “extensive investigation” by the New Mexico Gas Company.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said on March 7 that “we consider this an open investigation,” as there are “other loose ends we need to tie up.”
By Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY
