They argued such release would violate their right to privacy and cause a security concern for the estate.
She said the outlet initially planned to proceed with the news feature even without Hackmans participation.
When I told Gene and Betsy, they were horrified, Madore said.
Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa at the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, 2003SGranitz/WireImage
The publicist said she asked CBS to stop pursuing the project, and they ultimately obliged.
Officials quickly said it appeared the couple had been dead for some time.
Her cause of death was Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome,a rare but deadly rodent-borne disease.
Arakawa, meanwhile, signed her own estate documents the same year, leaving everything to him.
