Autopsy report reveals likely cause of death for Gene Hackman's dog

An autopsy report has shed light on how one of Gene Hackman's beloved dogs died alongside him and his wife, Betsy Arakawa.

Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead at their Santa Fe home. Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images.

The actor, 95, and his wife, 65, were both found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on February 26, along with one of their pet dogs after maintenance workers raised the alarm.

It had been determined that the pair had been dead for several days before they were found, and one of their three dogs had also passed away.

Chief Medical Investigator Dr. Heather Jarrell confirmed that Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome — a rare and often fatal disease transmitted through infected rodent droppings, per BBC News.

Her death was ruled as natural, with no signs of trauma. She is believed to have passed away on February 11, the last day she was known to have communicated via email, and had been found in a bathroom of their home.

Hackman, a two-time Academy Award-winning actor, died roughly a week later, on February 18.

Gene Hackman was found dead aged 95. Credit: Robert Mora/Getty Images

His cause of death was determined to be due to hypertensive cardiovascular disease, with advanced Alzheimer’s disease listed as a contributing factor. Dr. Jarrell noted that his pacemaker ceased recording cardiac activity on February 18, making it the likely date of his passing.

It has now been revealed that the couple's dog, Zinfandel (nicknamed Zinna), likely died of starvation and dehydration, according to an autopsy report obtained by The Associated Press and ABC News on Friday (March 14).

The AP cites the New Mexico Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Diagnostic Services as the source of the report, while ABC News sourced the report from Santa Fe Animal Control.

The report, made by the state Department of Agriculture’s veterinary lab, said that while the partial mummification of the dog could have obscured changes in its organs, there was no evidence of poisoning, disease, or trauma that could have led to death.

It also stated that the dog's stomach contained little aside from small amounts of hair and bile at the time of its death.

Zinna, a 12-year-old Australian kelpie mix, was found in a crate in a bathroom closet near where Arakawa was found.

The couple's two surviving dogs, Bear and Nikita, had been wandering around the property for days when they were found.

According to USA Today, first responders had been at the Hollywood legend's home for almost half an hour before they noticed the dogs behaving strangely.

One of the dogs had barked at the emergency workers continuously before running away towards the other end of the house, leading them to initially believe it wanted to play.

Santa Fe Fire Chief Bryan Moya told the outlet: "They realized (the dog) was trying to say, ‘Hey, come over here! Come over here!’”

The dog - it is not known whether it was Bear or Nikita - then led the officers through a back door that had been left open, into the mudroom where Hackman was found lying on the ground.

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa had both been dead for days before they were found. Credit: Ron Galella / Getty

Officers noted that besides Hackman and Arakawa's bodies, the home was otherwise clean and organized, and potential carbon monoxide poisoning was quickly ruled out as a cause of their deaths.

It is suspected that Arakawa may have died first as Santa Fe County Medical Examiner Heather Jarrell noted that due to Hackman's Alzheimer's, “it is quite possible he was not aware that [Arakawa] was deceased.”

The autopsy noted that while Hackman "had not eaten recently" before his death as there was "no food in his stomach," his body showed no "evidence of dehydration".

Our thoughts remain with the couple's loved ones at this difficult time.

Featured image credit: Donaldson Collection / Getty Images