Gene Hackman’s family hope to block autopsy results in bizarre move that deepens mystery

Gene Hackman’s family hope to block the release of his autopsy to the public, further deepening the mystery surrounding his death.

The mystery surrounding Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa’s deaths has deepened as his family makes an unusual move.

In addition to seeking to block photos and video of the couple’s bodies, their dog’s remains, and the general scene inside their Santa Fe home, Hackman’s family also wants to prevent the release of the autopsy and death investigation reports.

An insider close to the death investigation exclusively told The U.S. Sun that they have never in their career heard of a family trying to block autopsy results in New Mexico.

“Trying to block the autopsy report is very atypical, that is not something I have ever seen before,” the insider claimed.

“New Mexico doesn’t have an exemption for autopsy photos, and normally it’s not a concern, but when it comes to celebrity deaths, a lot of people will request them.

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa with two of their dogs. Picture: Supplied

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“So it’s common where family members of celebrities would use the New Mexico courts to block release of photos specifically.

An insider close to the death investigation exclusively told The U.S. Sun that they have never in their career heard of a family trying to block autopsy results in New Mexico.

“Trying to block the autopsy report is very atypical, that is not something I have ever seen before,” the insider claimed.

“New Mexico doesn’t have an exemption for autopsy photos, and normally it’s not a concern, but when it comes to celebrity deaths, a lot of people will request them.

“So it’s common where family members of celebrities would use the New Mexico courts to block release of photos specifically.

In a temporary restraining order obtained by Hackman’s estate, the Santa Fe court barred the Sheriff’s Office and the Office of the Medical Investigator from releasing any photos and video of Hackman and Arakawa’s bodies or their deceased dog and the inside of their house pending a hearing later this month.

Hackman’s death could remain a mystery to the public forever now. Picture: Mark LOUNDY / AFP.

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The unusual move to block the autopsy report in the restraining order, however, comes right after the blocking of the images.

As The U.S. Sun previously reported, the Office of the Medical Investigator in New Mexico confirmed during a news conference earlier this month that Gene’s wife was posthumously diagnosed with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare and potentially deadly disease transmitted through rodent exposure.

Hantavirus has in the past been a public health crisis, so it’s also unusual that there would be interest in blocking information to the public about a reported case.

Adding to the complexity of issues surrounding the Hackmans’ deaths was a revelation earlier this week that preliminary cell phone records show Arakawa made multiple calls to a Santa Fe medical centre on February 12, 24 hours after she was initially believed to have died.

This story originally appeared on The Sun and is republished here with permission

Originally published as Gene Hackman’s family hope to block autopsy results in bizarre move that deepens mystery