Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa’s bodies still haven’t been claimed a month after the couple were found dead, fueling rumors of a rift with the late star’s daughters.
Hackman and Arakawa’s remains are still unclaimed and being held by the Office of the Medical Examiner of New Mexico, TMZ reported Thursday.
The Medical Examiner updates the list of unclaimed decedents each Monday.
Iconic actor Hackman and Arakawa were listed as unclaimed earlier this week, and TMZ confirmed with the medical examiner’s office that their bodies remained in storage there.
The apparent snub could fuel claims Hackman was estranged from his three children Leslie Ann, Christopher and Elizabeth, who all live in California.
Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, were found dead at their compound in Santa Fe, New Mexico on February 26.
Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa, pictured in 1993. The couple’s bodies have still not been claimed more than a month after they died, a New Mexico coroner confirmed Thursday
The couple were found dead at their Santa Fe compound late last month after Arakawa was killed by a virus, with Hackman dying a week later
Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie Hackman all live in California. They are pictured with their father in 1978
Arakawa died first of a rodent-borne illness called hantavirus. Hackman, who had severe Alzheimer’s disease, died a week later.
Earlier this week, DailyMail.com revealed that red tape and tension between the siblings themselves may be the reason the bodies remain in state custody.
Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie Hackman were born during Hackman’s previous marriage to wife Faye Maltese.
It is unclear if Hackman, who had an $80 million fortune, left behind legally-binding burial or cremation instructions.
Court battles could ensue if his children disagree on how and where to lay him to rest.
The actor had left his $80 million Hollywood fortune to his wife, but since she was believed to have died about a week before him, there could be other legal complications.
Hackman’s daughter, Elizabeth, Hackman and her daughter, Annie, were recently seen together in Los Angeles. Hackman reportedly kept in touch with Elizabeth and his other daughter, Leslie
In her will, Arakawa designated her assets to a trust, to be distributed to charitable organizations and the settlement of medical debts.
Arakawa is survived by her 91-year-old mother, Yoshie Feaster, who also is suffering from dementia.
Since Arakawa’s only living relative is her mother —and her mother has dementia — she likely lacks the legal capacity to make those decisions.
