Morgan Freeman honors Gene Hackman with his image at the Oscars. AP Photo
Investigators looking into the deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, misidentified their deceased dog, according to a pet care expert. The couple’s German shepherd, Bear, and their other dog, Nikita, survived. However, their kelpie mix, Zinna, did not.
Joey Padilla, the owner of a Santa Fe pet care facility, confirmed that Zinna passed away. “She was always by Betsy’s side, and their bond was beautiful,” Padilla shared in a statement. “Zinna went from being a returned shelter dog to an incredible companion under Betsy’s care.”
Hackman and Arakawa’s partially mummified bodies were discovered in their Santa Fe home on February 26. Investigators believe the couple may have died up to two weeks earlier, according to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza.
The confusion about the deceased dog arose when deputies initially described the body as a “brown German shepherd.” However, authorities later admitted their mistake. “Our deputies don’t work with canines regularly, so they misidentified the breed,” a sheriff’s office spokesperson explained.
Arakawa’s body was found in a bathroom, near an open prescription bottle and scattered pills. Hackman’s remains were discovered in the home’s entryway. Investigators tested for carbon monoxide poisoning, a common silent killer in homes, but both bodies tested negative. No gas leaks were found in or around the home.
Authorities later conducted another inspection and found a small gas leak from a stove burner. However, officials confirmed that the leak was too minor to be deadly.
Investigators retrieved personal items from the home, including a planner and two cell phones. Experts will analyze these for more clues. Medical examiners are still working to determine the couple’s exact causes of death. However, toxicology reports may take weeks to complete.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities search for answers.
