A New Mexico judge ruled on Monday that images of Gene Hackman and his wife’s dead bodies will not be released to the public.

Judge Matthew Wilson granted permission for the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator to release records concerning the deaths of Hackman and Betsy Arakawa, while excluding photos of the deceased pair. As a result, the public can now access partial autopsy reports for Hackman and Arakawa, along with images of their home in Santa Fe and their deceased dog, who was found at the scene on February 27, as reported by the Santa Fe New Mexican.

Arakawa, aged 65, was discovered on the bathroom floor, with pills scattered on the countertop nearby. Hackman, aged 95, was found in the mudroom, with sunglasses beside him. The couple’s dog, Zenna, a kelpie mix, was also found dead, located in a kennel within a bathroom closet close to Arakawa’s body. Fortunately, their other two dogs were found alive on the premises.

Initially, police ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning as no gas leak was detected. They also pointed out there were no signs of forced entry, even though the front door was open.

Heather Jarrell, Office of the Medical Examiner’s Chief Medical Examiner, said Hackman died of heart disease, while Arakawa had hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and tested positive for hantavirus. Alzheimer’s disease was listed as a contributing factor in Hackman’s death.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said surveillance footage and other data indicated Arakawa died around February 11 and Hackman died on February 18.

According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, the couple’s deceased dog underwent a medical procedure days before its death. The state Department of Agriculture’s veterinary lab concluded it likely died from dehydration and hunger.

Attorneys representing Hackman’s children and the couple’s estate sought to have various records withheld from the public, including images of the home, arguing that it made the home vulnerable to break-ins. The children’s attorney asked the court to keep all records from the public out of respect for the late couple.

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[Feature Photo: AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File]