Authorities investigating the deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa, initially misidentified a deceased dog, according to a pet care specialist.
Joey Padilla, owner of Santa Fe Tails pet care facility, clarified that the couple’s German shepherd, Bear, and another dog, Nikita, survived. However, their kelpie mix, Zinna, did not. Padilla described Zinna as deeply attached to Arakawa and said she had transformed from a shelter dog into a beloved companion under her care.
Hackman and Arakawa were found dead in their Santa Fe home on February 26, and authorities believe they may have passed away up to two weeks earlier, according to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza.
Investigators initially reported finding a deceased “brown German shepherd,” but later admitted they had misidentified the breed. A sheriff’s office spokesperson explained that deputies do not typically work with dogs and made an error in identifying the animal.
Arakawa’s body was found in a bathroom near an open prescription bottle and scattered pills, while Hackman was discovered in the home’s entryway. Initial tests ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning, and no gas leaks were found in the house. A utility company later detected a tiny gas leak from a stove burner, but officials said it was too small to be harmful.
Authorities have collected personal belongings, including a planner and two cellphones, for further investigation. Medical examiners are still determining the cause of death, but toxicology results could take weeks.
