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More than a month has passed since the two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman (95) and his wife Betsy Arakawa (65) were found lifeless in their house in New Mexico. Nevertheless, as the US portal TMZ reported on March 27, the couples’ corpses have so far not been picked up. And that ensures speculation.
On February 26, the corpses of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa were discovered – in a state of advanced decay. According to official autopsy, Gene Hackman died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with his Alzheimer’s diagnosis being considered a significant fellow factor. Betsy Arakawa, on the other hand, succumbed to the Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome-an extremely rare infectious disease transmitted by rodent. Experts estimate that Betsy Arakawa died on February 11, while Hackman died about a week later on February 18 – apparently all alone.
Why the corpses of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa have not yet been buried or picked up remains puzzling. TMZ speculates that it could be not yet completed burial or inheritance matters.
“The temptations – money, fame – that was too much for the poor boy”
Gene Hackmans Three adult children were not taken into account in his will. His wife alone was intended as the sole heir. In previous interviews, the actor spoke openly about the tense relationship with his children. Already in 1989 he told the New York Times:
“As an actor you become very selfish. Although I had a family, I accepted jobs that separated me from them three or four months at a time. The temptations – money, fame – that was too much for the poor boy in me.”
In an interview from 2000 with the “Irish Independent”, he commented in a similar self -critical manner:
“It is hard to be the son or daughter of a celebrity. I often couldn’t be at home when they were small. And then they lived in California – always in the shadow of my success.”
After his death became known, his children and his granddaughter published a common statement:
“He was loved by millions worldwide for his acting brilliance. But for us he was just dad and grandpa. We are infinitely sad and will miss him very much.”
Whether the children are not interested in the burial of their father’s body, or whether funeral or inheritance matters still have to be clarified- this remains open so far.