The tragic passing of Hollywood legend Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa has taken another heartbreaking turn as authorities have now confirmed the cause of death of one of their beloved dogs.
Following the discovery of the couple’s bodies at their Santa Fe home, questions quickly arose about the circumstances surrounding their deaths and why they had gone unnoticed for so long. While investigators ruled out foul play and determined that both Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, died from natural causes, their pet’s fate painted a much grimmer picture of what unfolded in their final days.
Among the couple’s three dogs, one—a kelpie mix named Zinna—was found dead inside a crate, locked in a bathroom closet near Arakawa’s body. The New Mexico Department of Agriculture’s veterinary lab conducted a thorough examination of the remains and concluded that the most likely cause of death was dehydration and starvation. Given the state of the dog’s decomposition, it was difficult to detect any additional factors, but no signs of trauma, poisoning, or infectious disease were found.
The official report described Zinna’s body as partially mummified, indicating that she had been dead for quite some time before authorities arrived. The dog’s stomach was nearly empty, containing only small traces of bile and hair, further confirming that Zinna likely suffered from prolonged neglect in the final days of her life.
Authorities first learned about the unfortunate canine tragedy when emergency responders arrived at the Hackman-Arakawa residence after being alerted by a concerned neighbor. The two surviving dogs were found inside the home, appearing to be in relatively good health, though visibly distressed. In a moment that struck investigators as particularly haunting, one of the dogs led first responders directly to Hackman’s body, as if desperately trying to get help for its owner.
Santa Fe Fire Department Chief Brian Moya later described the dogs’ reaction to the authorities’ arrival, noting that they were attempting to get the attention of responders, as if trying to communicate something urgent. He recalled:
“They realized the dog was trying to say, ‘Hey, come over here! Come over here!’”
As for why Zinna was locked inside the crate, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza shed some light on the mystery. He revealed that Arakawa had picked Zinna up from a veterinary hospital on February 9 after the dog underwent a medical procedure. This could explain why she had been placed inside a crate, but tragically, with both owners passing away within days of each other, Zinna was left trapped inside with no access to food or water.
The revelation added an even more devastating layer to an already tragic situation. While Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths were determined to be due to medical conditions—with Hackman succumbing to hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, exacerbated by Alzheimer’s, and Arakawa dying from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome—Zinna’s fate was the result of pure misfortune and unintentional neglect.
The two surviving dogs have since been placed in the care of trusted individuals, including Joey Padilla, the owner of the Santa Fe Tails pet care facility, who had worked with the family’s pets in the past. He spoke about the special bond the animals had with Arakawa, emphasizing how much they adored her:
“These dogs were attached to Betsy. Anytime Betsy had an errand to do, they went with her. They loved going on rides in the car, whether it was to the store or just out for a drive. They were always by her side.”
Zinna’s death, while a tragic consequence of unfortunate timing, serves as a somber reminder of how fragile life can be, even for the most beloved pets. With both of their devoted owners gone, the dogs were left in confusion and isolation, trying to make sense of a world that suddenly became empty.
While authorities continue to finalize their investigation, it remains a heartbreaking chapter in the story of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s passing—a tragedy that extended beyond just the human lives lost, touching even the most innocent members of their household.