The poignant article titled, "Bodies of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa Remain Unclaimed Over a Month After Their Demises," first surfaced on Consequence, shedding light on a heart-wrenching aftermath. More than a month has elapsed since the tragic discovery of Academy Award-winner Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, in their New Mexico abode. Yet, as of March 27th, according to TMZ, their mortal remains remain unclaimed.
On February 26th, the couple was found deceased, with Hackman succumbing to "hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, exacerbated by Alzheimer’s," while Arakawa lost her battle to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare rodent-borne illness. Estimates suggest that Hackman passed away around February 18th, approximately a week after his wife on February 11th. Maintenance workers discovered their bodies in a state of advanced decomposition.
TMZ speculates that the reason behind the unclaimed remains remains unclear, hinting at the possibility that the family is still in the process of arranging funerals or finalizing related plans. Intriguingly, Hackman's will designated Arakawa as his sole beneficiary, excluding his three adult children. In the past, Hackman had openly discussed the challenges in his relationship with his offspring. During a 1989 interview with The New York Times, he confessed, "Acting fosters selfishness. Despite having a family, I took jobs that kept us apart for months. The allure of money and recognition overwhelmed the humble boy within me."
Elaborating further in a 2000 interview with The Irish Independent, Hackman reflected, "Being the child of a celebrity is arduous. I couldn't always be present during their upbringing, and in California, my success was a constant shadow over them."
Following the heart-breaking news of his demise, Hackman's children and granddaughter issued a collective statement, expressing, "He was celebrated worldwide for his stellar acting career, but to us, he was simply Dad and Grandpa. Our loss is profound, and we mourn him deeply."
