Fans of Hollywood legend Gene Hackman were horrified late last month when he and his wife Betsy Arakawa were both found dead in their New Mexico home.

While the cause of their deaths has since been confirmed, lawyers are fighting to keep details of the tragedy hidden from the public. 

Hackman likely died a week after his wife passed away

According to the Associated Press, medical authorities concluded that the 65-year-old Arakawa appears to have passed away on February 11 due to hantavirus, a relatively rare illness spread by rodent excrement.

Meanwhile, Hackman died at some point later due to heart disease, with his pacemaker last showing signs of activity on February 18.

The 95-year-old was suffering from Alzheimer’s an may not have been aware that his wife had died, something which was commented on by chief medical investigator Dr. Heather Jarrell

"He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that’s what resulted in his death," Jarrell was quoted as saying. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased."

Estate representative seeks to suppress video and photographs

The Associated Press reported on Thursday Hackman's estate is seeking to block the release of photographs and police body-camera video taken at Hackman's home.

Julia Peters is a representative for the estate, and she asked a state district court in Santa Fe this past week to seal material relating to the investigation.

She argued in a petition that Hackman and Arakawa "lived an exemplary private life for over thirty years in Santa Fe, New Mexico and did not showcase their lifestyle."

Amanda Lavin serves as legal director for the nonprofit New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, and she told the Associated Press that New Mexico law allows for sensitive images to be kept under wraps.

What's more, Lavin explained that some medication information is excluded from the state Inspection of Public Records Act.

Autopsy reports are considered to be public records