Dog of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa suspected to have perished due to lack of water and food.
Refreshed Account: The Heartbreaking Tale of Gene Hackman and His Beloved Canine
Let's delve into a heart-wrenching situation that unfolded when Hollywood legend Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found deceased in their Santa Fe home. alongside their dog Zinna.
Investigations revealed that Zinna, a dear companion of the couple, perished from dehydration and malnutrition. An autopsy by the state Department of Agriculture's veterinary lab showed little evidence of disease, trauma, or poisoning, possibly due to the dog's advanced state of decomposition. Zinna's stomach contained only minute amounts of hair and bile and exhibited partial mummification.
The kelpie mix was one of their three dogs. Zinnia met her end in a crate within a bathroom closet, while two other dogs miraculously survived.
Forensic reports revealed that Hackman passed away from heart disease with complications from Alzheimer's disease around a week after Arakawa succumbed to a rare, rodent-borne illness - hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Amazingly, Hackman seemed unaware of his wife's demise due to his advanced stage of Alzheimer's.
Similarly, Arakawa and Zinna were found in various states of decomposition due to the dry climate and high altitude in Santa Fe. Although both deaths were attributed to natural causes, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office is still conducting an investigation to establish the timeline and gather information from the cellphones present in the home and their last contacts.
Denise Womack Avila, a spokesperson for the sheriff, mentioned that the investigation remains active until all relevant data is collected to tie up the timeline.
Joey Padilla, owner of the Santa Fe Tails pet care facility, shared that Zinnia, once a returned shelter dog, had been an outstanding companion and was always by Arakawa's side. Born in Hawaii, Arakawa honed her skills as a concert pianist, attended the University of Southern California, and met Hackman at a California gym in the mid-1980s.
The iconic actor, who won two Oscars during his illustrious career, starred in films like "The French Connection," "Hoosiers," and "Superman." Hackman and Arakawa maintained a private life in Santa Fe from the time they moved there years ago.
The couple's estate representative has made a request to block the public release of autopsy and investigative reports related to their deaths, including photographs and videos. This request will be considered by a state district judge.
In the heartbreaking situation, it's sad to note that even their beloved dog Zinna, a kelpie mix, died from dehydration and malnutrition, just like Arakawa who died from a rare, rodent-borne illness - hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Interestingly, neither of them showed any signs of disease or poisoning in their autopsies. Despite their deaths being attributed to natural causes, investigations are still ongoing to establish the exact timeline and gather information from cellphones found in their home. Lastly, it should be mentioned that Zinna, who once struggled in a shelter, was a cherished companion to Arakawa.
