SANTA FE, N.M. — During the investigation into the demise of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa, there was an initial error in identifying their deceased canine, as highlighted by a pet care specialist.
The misinformation pertained to their German shepherd named Bear, who was reported as deceased. However, Bear, along with another dog named Nikita, survived the incident. Unfortunately, their kelpie mix, Zinna, passed away, clarified Joey Padilla, the proprietor of Santa Fe Tails pet care service, who is now tasked with the care of the surviving dogs.
“The bond between Zinna and Betsy was profound,” Padilla shared in an email statement on Tuesday. “Zinna transformed from being a returned shelter dog into a remarkable companion under Betsy’s nurturing care.”
The tragedy surrounding Hackman and Arakawa continued to unfold as their partially mummified bodies were discovered in their Santa Fe residence on February 26. It’s suspected that the couple may have died approximately two weeks before the discovery, as stated by Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza.
A necropsy was not performed on Zinna, who was located inside a kennel in a bathroom closet near Arakawa, according to a spokesperson from the sheriff’s office. Initially, investigators mistakenly recorded the presence of “a deceased brown in color German-Shepard canine.”
Sheriff’s office representative Avila recognized the misidentification of Zinna’s breed, explaining, “Our deputies, they don’t interact with canines routinely.”
Within the household, Arakawa’s body was uncovered alongside an open prescription bottle and scattered pills on the bathroom counter, while Hackman was found at the home’s entryway.
Notably, both bodies tested negative for carbon monoxide—a silent threat that could accumulate within inadequately ventilated spaces as it results from certain home appliances. No traces of gas leaks were found during initial inspections at the home.
On Tuesday, the sheriff’s office announced that a detailed inspection conducted by the utility company revealed a minor leak from one stove burner. However, the leak’s severity was deemed insufficient to pose a lethal threat.
Authorities have collected several personal items from the Hackman-Arakawa home, including a monthly planner and two cellphones, which are slated for thorough analysis. Medical examiners continue their pursuit to determine the precise cause of death, though the completion of toxicology reports will take several weeks.
