Gene Hackman was found dead with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, along with their dog, Zinna, with officials confirming the reason for the dog’s death after their other two were found alive
New official reports have confirmed the cause of death for the dog of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa – who were both found dead in their Hollywood home last month.
Hackman’s dog Zinna was found dead alongside the Hollywood couple. Beforehand, Gene’s cause of death was reported as hypersensitive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with Alzheimer’s as a contributing factor during a press conference on March 7.
Betsy’s was due to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare infectious disease usually spread by rodents that begins with flu-like symptoms and progresses rapidly to more severe disease.
Now, the death of Zinna has been confirmed via a necropsy report. It revealed that dehydration and starvation likely led to the death of the dog.
The Santa Fe County animal control agency’s report, obtained by The Associated Press, details partial mummification of the dog and notes the absence of signs indicating infectious disease, trauma, or poisoning.
Adding to this, severe decomposition may have obscured changes to the dog’s organs, its stomach contained only small amounts of hair and bile. The dog was just one of three owned by the couple.
The other two dogs, named Bear and Nikita, survived, but Zinna was discovered dead in a crate inside a bathroom closet, near the body of Betsy.
According to readings on Hackman’s pacemaker, it is believed that he died around February 18, while Betsy, who died of a severe respiratory illness transmitted through rodent excrement, is believed to have died around February 11, judging by the final time she was spotted on surveillance footage.
In a heartbreaking revelation, officials noted that Gene’s Alzheimer’s was in an “advanced state,” meaning that it is “quite possible that he was not aware” of his surroundings. This means he may not have registered that Betsy was dead or that Zinna was in a crate.
“We know from our investigations that on February 9 2025, [Betsy] picked up Zinna from Gruda Veterinary Hospital. There was a procedure that was done with the dog, which may explain why the dog was in a crate at the residence,” revealed Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza at a press conference.
The dog was a kelpie mix that, according to reports, was very close to Betsy.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
