Gene Hackman's Dog Played Key Role in Death Investigation

Yahoo

14-03-2025

It has now been more than two weeks since the bodies of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa were discovered at their Santa Fe home, and heartbreaking details continue to emerge as authorities continue their investigation.
One of the latest stories to be revealed from the tragic scene is that police were in the Hackman-Arakawa home for approximately 30 minutes before the Oscar-winning actor's body was even discovered. And that it was one of the couple's dogs who alerted authorities to its whereabouts.According to USA Today, Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya explained that when paramedics arrived at the home and found Arakawa, who they determined to be deceased, they exited the property and called the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office to the scene, which is standard protocol.
When they re-entered the sprawling 9,000-square-foot home, first responders began checking the home for any other people or signs of foul play. During this time, one of the couple's two surviving dogs kept approaching members of the team barking, then running off. Moya explained that they believed the dog simply wanted to play. Eventually, they determined the pup was attempting to get their attention.
'They realized [the dog] was trying to say, 'Hey, come over here! Come over here!,'' Moya said.
The dog led investigators to the mudroom, where they discovered Hackman's body, which showed signs of decomposition, on the floor.It's unclear which of Hackman and Arakawa's two surviving pups, a German shepherd named Bear or a shepherd mix named Nikki, was the one who helped police. Their third dog, an Australian kelpie mix named Zinfandel, or Zinna, was found dead in a crate in the same bathroom as Arakawa. It is believed that the dog died from dehydration and starvation, and had been crated due to a recent medical procedure.
Bear and Nikki, however, are said to be doing well. They are currently staying with Joey Padilla, a friend of the couple who owns Santa Fe Tails, a local boarding facility. One week after the couple's bodies were discovered, Padilla spoke with ABC News and said the dogs 'are safe and adjusting.' Padilla plans to keep the dogs 'until I get word on what Betsy's wishes for these dogs are.'