An examination of the deceased dog found alongside actor Gene Hackman and his wife in their Santa Fe home indicates that dehydration and starvation were likely the cause of its death.
A report obtained by The Associated Press from the state Department of Agriculture's veterinary lab describes partial mummification and states that while severe decomposition may have masked changes in the organs, no signs of infectious disease, trauma, or poisoning were found as potential causes of death.
Gene Hackman died at home a week after wife Betsy Arakawa died from hantavirus
The report further revealed that the dog’s stomach was largely empty, apart from small amounts of hair and bile.
Zinna, a kelpie mix and one of the couple’s three dogs, was discovered deceased inside a crate in a bathroom closet near Betsy Arakawa’s body. The other two dogs survived.
Authorities confirmed last week that Hackman succumbed to heart disease with complications from Alzheimer’s, approximately a week after his wife died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare rodent-borne disease. In the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s, Hackman was seemingly unaware of his wife’s passing.
Hackman was found in the entryway of the home, while Arakawa was discovered in a bathroom. Like the dog, their bodies exhibited decomposition and partial mummification, a result of their body type and the particularly dry climate of Santa Fe, situated at an elevation of nearly 7,200 feet (2,200 meters).
Though both deaths were determined to be from natural causes, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office is finalising its investigation by piecing together the timeline using data from cellphones recovered from the home and the couple’s last known communications.
“The case remains active until we have that information to complete the timeline,” said sheriff’s office spokesperson Denise Womack Avila.
Joey Padilla, owner of the Santa Fe Tails pet care facility, which assisted in caring for the surviving dogs, recalled Zinna’s transformation from a returned shelter dog to an exceptional companion that never left Arakawa’s side.
Arakawa, originally from Hawaii, was a trained concert pianist who studied at the University of Southern California. She met Hackman in the mid-1980s while working at a California gym.
Hackman, a legendary Hollywood figure, won two Oscars over a distinguished career spanning from the 1960s to the early 2000s, featuring roles in films such as The French Connection, Hoosiers, and Superman.
Gene Hackman, wife and dog found dead in their New Mexico Home
The couple led a private life after relocating to Santa Fe decades ago. A representative of their estate has cited their preference for privacy in an attempt to prevent the public release of autopsy and investigative reports related to their deaths, particularly photographs and video. A state district judge will ultimately decide on the matter.