Gene Hackman Case: Deceased Dog Misidentified During Investigation

Yahoo

05-03-2025

Originally appeared on E! Online
Authorities are setting the record straight on an inaccuracy relating to 's death.
One week after the two-time Oscar winner, 95, and his wife , 65, were found dead in their New Mexico home alongside one of their dogs, a pet care specialist revealed that the deceased canine was misidentified at the scene.
Authorities initially identified the pet, who was found in a kennel in a bathroom closet near Betsy's body, as a German shepherd named Bear. However, according to a caretaker of the surviving dogs, Joey Padilla, it was actually their Australian Kelpie mix named Zinna that tragically passed away. Bear, on the other hand, survived alongside their third dog Nikita.
During the time they spent together, the late dog 'was always attached to Betsy at the hip and it was a beautiful relationship,' Joey told CNN in an email statement March 4. 'Zinna went from being a returned shelter dog to this incredible companion under Betsy's hand.'
More from E! Online
Abdul Aziz Khan, Who Was Kidnapped in 2017, Found Alive 7 Years Later
Denise Richards Reveals Her and Charlie Sheen's Daughters Lola and Sami Are No Longer Speaking
Why Elon Musk Was Scolded During Donald Trump's Address to Congress
As for what the Sheriff's office had to say after authorities initially recorded the discovery of 'a deceased brown in color German-Shepard canine?' Spokesperson Denise Womack-Avila acknowledged the mistake, adding that it wasn't necessarily their area of expertise.
'Our deputies,' she said to USA Today, 'they don't work with canines on a daily basis.'
But as authorities continue their active and ongoing investigation into what may have caused Gene and Betsy's tragic deaths, they've also run into a bit of trouble piecing together the exact sequence of events.
'We're trying to put things together, put together a timeline—when the decedents were last seen and were spoken to,' Santa Fe County Sheriff Adam Mendoza recently told Savannah Guthrie on Today. 'We understand that is a challenge because they were very private individuals and a private family. We're trying to put all that information together right now.'
However, authorities believe the two died nearly two weeks before being found, as Gene's pacemaker recorded his last 'event' on Feb. 17.
'There was no indication that anybody was moving about the house or doing anything different,' Adam continued, 'so it's very hard to determine if they both passed at the time or how close they passed together.'
And though much is left unknown, the French Connection actor's family, including his nephew Tim Hackman, is not jumping to any conclusions.
'We're waiting on toxicology,' Tim, the son of Gene's brother Richard Hackman, told Us Weekly. 'That will tell us everything. It's hard to theorize. There are lots of theories out there and I don't want to speculate. It's easy to speculate negative theories.'
In the meantime, many of Gene's former collaborators and friends have taken to social media to express their grief over the loss of the film legend. To see all the heartbreaking tributes, keep reading.
Prince William & Kate MiddletonGwyneth PaltrowTom HanksElizabeth Hackman, Leslie Hackman & Annie HackmanFrancis Ford CoppolaViola DavisNathan LaneHank AzariaPedro PascalMichael RosenbaumAntonio BanderasJohn SimmGeorge TakeiEdgar WrightCary Elwes
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App