The likely cause of death has been revealed for one of the dogs belonging to late actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, who were all found deceased at their Santa Fe home late last month.
Zinna, a 12-year-old Australian kelpie mix, likely died of dehydration and starvation, according to a New Mexico Department of Agriculture veterinary lab report.
Save for a bit of hair and bile, the former shelter dog’s stomach was largely empty at the time she was found, partially mummified. Though that could have contributed to organ changes, the report listed no evidence of infectious disease, trauma or fatal poisoning.
Arakawa’s body was found on a bathroom floor, roughly 10 to 15 feet from where Zinna’s remains were found in a crate.
The couple’s two other dogs — a German Shepherd named Bear and Akita-Shepherd mix named Nikita — were found alive on the property. Officials said one of those dogs was responsible for helping lead first responders to Hackman’s body in a mudroom at the back of the home.
Authorities previously retraced Arakawa’s activities in the days leading up to her death, which included picking up Zinna from the vet on Feb. 9.
“She was devoted to those dogs,” Robert Gruda, the animal hospital’s owner, told USA Today, noting she’d been taking their pups to his office for years.
He said he knew something was awry two days later when Arakawa failed to pick up prescription food and medication that was waiting for Zinna.
“She was consistent, predictable. We knew something was wrong when she didn’t pick up the food on time,” he said.
Arakawa, a 65-year-old classical pianist, is believed to have died on Feb. 11 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but sometimes fatal rodent-borne disease that can spread to humans.
Hackman, meanwhile, likely died a week later on Feb. 18, according to New Mexico officials. The medical examiner said the 95-year-old Oscar winner died from “severe heart disease,” coupled with advanced Alzheimer’s.
The house owned by actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa stands Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Santa Fe, N.M. (AP Photo/Roberto E. Rosales)
Their bodies weren’t found until Feb. 26, after a maintenance worker at their gated community called 911.
While the couple’s deaths have been ruled to be from natural causes, with no evidence of foul play, a spokesperson for the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said the case remains active until they can “tie up the timeline.”