Gene Hackman's estate selling for $6 million less than 1 year after he and wife died there

"On Thursday, agents with Sotheby's International Realty confirmed to The Wall Street Journal that the couple's 13,000-square-foot compound, which sits on 53 acres, was being put up for sale for $6.25 million. Built in 1997, the six-bedroom, 10-bath home sits in the gated Santa Fe Summit community. We are selling the property on its virtues and all of the positives, said agent Tara S. Earley, acknowledging that the couple's deaths will be a dealbreaker for some buyers, though for others that doesn't matter."

"Those virtues include a library, gym, game room, and media room, as well as a studio and three-bedroom guesthouse. The outside highlights include a pool, hot tub and a secluded putting green with city and mountain views. The Hackmans embraced Santa Fe, and Santa Fe embraced them, Earley said of the late couple, who purchased the home in the 1990s. You would see them in town and they were not treated as celebrities."

"Authorities believe that Arakawa, a 65-year-old pianist, likely died around Feb. 12 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome typically transmitted by rodents nearly a week before the death of her 95-year-old husband. Hackman's cause of death was determined to be heart disease, with advanced Alzheimer's cited as a significant contributing condition. Their bodies weren't discovered until Feb. 26, along with one of their three dogs."

Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead at their Santa Fe home and their 13,000-square-foot, six-bedroom, 10-bath compound on 53 acres is listed for $6.25 million. Authorities believe Arakawa likely died around Feb. 12 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, and Hackman's cause of death was heart disease with advanced Alzheimer's as a contributing condition. Their bodies and one of their three dogs were discovered Feb. 26. The property, built in 1997 in the gated Santa Fe Summit community, features a library, gym, game room, media room, studio, three-bedroom guesthouse, pool, hot tub, and secluded putting green. Hackman's will left his assets and an $80 million fortune to Arakawa, and Arakawa was named successor trustee to his living trust.

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