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Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cause of death of Gene Hackman and wife's dog detailed after tragic discovery
The dog belonging to late Hollywood star Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa died of dehydration and starvation, a report has said. Hackman, 95, known for his roles in films including The French Connection, Unforgiven and The Conversation, was discovered at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico on February 26. He was found dead alongside his wife Betsy, 65. The Mirror reports that authorities found two dogs at the property, but sadly one of the couple's beloved dogs, a kelpie mix named Zinna, was found dead. An investigation revealed that Hackman had died of heart failure, complicated by advanced Alzheimer's and hypertension. The actor was 'in very poor health' before he died, New Mexico Chief Medical Examiner Heather Jarrell said in a statement following an investigation into his passing. Medical examiners suggested that his wife died from rare rodent-borne illness hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. She had died a week before her husband. READ MORE: Police issue statement with cordon in place and emergency services at scene READ MORE: Police stop 'man with gun' after racing to scene in Salford Hackman's body, which had signs of decomposition and mummification, was found in the entrance hall of his home, while Betsy was discovered in a bathroom, with officials believing that the award-winning actor may not have been aware of his wife's death due to his Alzheimer's. Their dog Zinna was found dead in a crate near Betsy's body, and the Santa Fe County animal control agency's report said there was 'partial mummification' of the dog. The dog's stomach only contained small amounts of hair and bile, leading animal control officials to confirm Zinna died of starvation and dehydration. Their beloved pet was a returned shelter dog, and was 'an incredible companion' to Betsy, said Joey Padilla, the owner of the Santa Fe Tails pet care facility. The couple's two other surviving dogs, Bear and Nikita, are being cared for at the facility. Earlier this week, Santa Fe Fire Department Chief Brian Moya told USA Today that Bear and Nikita helped authorities find the bodies of their owners, after maintenance workers raised the alarm. He recalled the dogs were running up to first responders and barking, before running in a different direction. 'They realised (the dog) was trying to say, 'Hey, come over here! Come over here!'' he said. Gene, who won two Oscars, retired from Hollywood in the early 2000s, and preferred a more private life in Santa Fe with Betsy and their three dogs. Following news of the couple's death, a representative for Gene and Betsy's estate has tried to block the public release of autopsy and investigative reports related to their deaths, citing privacy concerns.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dehydration and Starvation Likely Cause of Death for Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's Dog: Report
New details have been released regarding the death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa Hackman's dog Zinna. Santa Fe County animal control said dehydration and starvation likely led to the kelpie mix's death, the Associated Press reported Friday, March 14, citing the New Mexico agency. However, the canine's body had already shown signs of partial mummification, meaning the severe state could have obscured changes in organs. The outlet also noted that no evidence of infectious disease, trauma or poisoning was detected. Santa Fe County animal control also noted that Zinna's stomach was empty except for small amounts of hair and bile, per AP. Zinna, Hackman, 95, and Arakawa Hackman, 65, were discovered dead in their Santa Fe home on Feb. 26. Related: What Happened to Gene Hackman and His Wife? What We Know So Far About Their Deaths The longtime couple, who were married since 1991, had two other dogs on the property at the time — Bear and Nikita. Paramedics with the Santa Fe Fire Department found Arakawa Hackman collapsed in a bathroom near a space heater and scattered pills, according to a search warrant affidavit reviewed by PEOPLE. It was later determined that she died from hantavirus, a flu-like virus linked to rodent droppings. The Mississippi Burning actor died approximately a week later from severe heart disease, high blood pressure and advanced Alzheimer's disease. Related: Gene Hackman's Dog Cause of Death Still Under Investigation as Cops Confirm Pet Was 'Crated' Due to Surgical Procedure Zinna was found dead in her crate, but Bear and Nikita had been roaming freely in and out of the house because a back door was left open. Santa Fe Fire Department Chief Brian Moya told USA Today earlier this week that the surviving dogs helped first responders find the bodies of their owners, noting that the canines kept running up to them and barking, then running in a different direction. 'They realized (the dog) was trying to say, 'Hey, come over here! Come over here!' ' Moya said. Zinna had reportedly undergone a 'major surgery' in January and veterinary staff grew concerned after the classical pianist didn't come in to pick up some specialized dog food and medication for Zinna on Feb. 11. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Joey Padilla owns a facility that has been caring for Bear and Nikita since their owners' deaths. "[Zinna] was always attached to Betsy at the hip and it was a beautiful relationship,' Padilla previously told the AP in a statement. 'Zinna went from being a returned shelter dog to this incredible companion under Betsy's hand.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Yahoo
Santa Fe police arrest, charge man in Friday homicide
A Santa Fe man is facing a murder charge after police said they heard gunshots from a residence and found a gunshot victim inside who ended up dying from his injuries. 'It has been reported that they were brothers, and we're still trying to confirm that because of the last names,' Santa Fe police Lt. Jimmie Montoya said in an interview Saturday. Montoya said he believes the men to be half-brothers. According to Montoya and a news release Santa Fe police sent out Saturday, officers heard the shots in the area of Montano Street at around 4:30 p.m. Friday while performing a domestic violence notification nearby, a customary notification for a victim for when someone arrested on domestic violence charges is set to be released. Police located the residence from which the gunshots came — and a man who 'immediately ran inside the residence, disobeying commands from officers to stop,' according to the release. After a short time, officers convinced the man to exit 'without further incident,' the release says. Police said they detained Leonel Alejandro Munoz Castro, 41, and found Aaron Mitchell, 33, outside the property with at least one gunshot wound to his chest. Despite attempts from Santa Fe Fire Department medics to perform 'life-saving measures,' they were unable to save Mitchell, police said, and he was pronounced dead on the scene. Munoz Castro was arrested and charged with one open count of murder and one count of tampering with evidence. The second count, Montoya said, is because police suspect Munoz Castro hid the weapon when he ran inside. Detectives searched the residence Friday night and recovered a weapon, though Lieutenant Montoya didn't indicate if it was the murder weapon. The case remains active with the police department's Violent Crimes Unit. Munoz Castro was arrested in March 2024, after police said they saw him driving the wrong way on E. Water Street. Officers conducted a traffic stop, after which Munoz Castro began physically resisting officers' attempts to remove him from the vehicle, according to a statement of probable cause from Officer Mitchell Torres. Munoz Castro was charged with a litany of petty misdemeanors, misdemeanor resisting arrest, and the fourth-degree felony battery upon a peace officer. He later failed to appear in court, resulting in the issuance of a warrant on May 8, 2024. Munoz Castro told officers while detained that his name was 'Alex Mitchell,' Torres' statement says. Police later checked his driver's license and noted it read 'Leonel Munoz.' Alex Mitchell Muñoz is also the name of his Facebook account; his friends list includes his alleged victim, and possible brother, Aaron Mitchell. Munoz Castro was charged with battery against a household member in July 2017. Assistant District Attorney Marlow Hooper dismissed the case without prejudice 'because the State has determined to no longer proceed in this matter, in the interest of justice,' according to a filing. 'Defendant has successfully complied with the conditions of a defense continuance.' Another battery against a household member case involving the same alleged victim came in May 2020. It was dismissed without prejudice by Judge David McElroy because the victim was 'uncooperative,' leaving the state unable to proceed. Munoz Castro was booked into Santa Fe County jail at 11:09 p.m. on Friday on charges of first-degree murder and failure to appear.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Gene Hackman and his wife's deaths 'could be a similar timeframe': fire chief
SANTA FE, N.M.– Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya is sharing his opinion about when Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa died on Feb. 26. Moya told Fox News Digital, "Just because both bodies were in similar ways where we, as experts, sad to say that we know a lot about how people die and how long people are dead for – both bodies are in a similar manner that it could be a similar timeframe." Although Moya was not a first responder to the 911 call to Hackman's home, he was told that the property sprawled over 9,000 square feet and consisted of three structures. The fire chief explained that his paramedic told him once he returned from the Hackman residence that Gene, Betsy and their dog — who was later identified as Zinna — were found in the "same building." According to Moya, the property had three separate structures. Gene Hackman Death: Complete Coverage "They checked every residence for gas leaks," he said. Hackman and Arakawa tested negative for carbon monoxide, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed at Friday's press conference. Read On The Fox News App At the press conference, Mendoza also confirmed the last recorded activity on Hackman's pacemaker occurred on Feb. 17. Authorities assumed this was Hackman's last day alive, as the Oscar winner's body was not discovered for nine more days. Gene Hackman Dead At 95: His Life In Photos Moya told Fox News Digital that since he's been chief, which has been for three years, the Santa Fe Fire Department and emergency medical services (EMS) have not responded to any calls at the Hackman residence. WATCH: Gene Hackman and his wife's deaths 'could be a similar timeframe': fire chief According to Moya, the Santa Fe Fire Department was last involved with the investigation on Thursday, Feb. 27, and the case is in the Sheriff's Department's hands at this point. Circumstances surrounding the deaths of Hackman and Arakawa remain a mystery to Santa Fe, New Mexico, authorities as they work backwards and piece together evidence to figure out how the couple died. New Mexico officials found Hackman, Arakawa and one of their dogs dead in their home one week ago. Detectives described their deaths as "suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation," according to a search warrant affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital. Hackman and Arakawa were found by maintenance workers Jesse Kesler and Roland Lowe Begay. Kesler, who worked as a personal contractor for the couple for 16 years, made the frantic 911 call on Feb. 26. Detectives recovered two cellphones, an orange prescription bottle and a 2025 planner while inspecting the residence, the search warrant affidavit stated. Officials also revealed that Arakawa's body was found decomposed with bloating on her face and mummification in her hands and feet. Per the search warrant affidavit, the deceased dog was found "10-15 feet" from Arakawa in a closet of the bathroom. Like What You're Reading? Click Here For More Entertainment News Hackman was also found to have the same signs of decomposition as his wife. According to the search warrant affidavit, Deputy Thomas suspected Hackman had "suddenly fallen" at the time of his death. WATCH: First responders haven't had any calls to Gene Hackman and his wife's home in over three years: fire chief Recently, sheriffs confirmed a misstep in the investigation after wrongly identifying the dog found dead in the Hackman home. The dog that was found dead near Arakawa's body was misidentified by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department in the investigation, Fox News Digital confirmed. The owner of Santa Fe Tails, the pet care facility that took in Hackman's two other surviving dogs, explained that the dead dog was a different breed than what is listed in the search warrant affidavit. Click Here To Sign Up For The Entertainment Newsletter Zinna, a mixed breed, was found in a kennel in a bathroom closet near Arakawa. However, investigators initially noted the discovery of a "deceased brown in color German-Shepard canine," the search warrant stated. Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Denise Womack-Avila acknowledged that deputies initially misidentified the breed of the deceased dog. "Our deputies, they don't work with canines on a daily basis," she said, according to The Associated Press. Arakawa and Hackman did have two German Shepherds: Bear, 4, and Nikita, 7. Fox News Digital's Tracy Wright contributed to this article source: Gene Hackman and his wife's deaths 'could be a similar timeframe': fire chief
Fox News
06-03-2025
- Fox News
Gene Hackman and his wife's deaths 'could be a similar timeframe': fire chief
SANTA FE, N.M.– Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya is sharing his opinion about when Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa died on Feb. 26. Moya told Fox News Digital, "Just because both bodies were in similar ways where we, as experts, sad to say that we know a lot about how people die and how long people are dead for – both bodies are in a similar manner that it could be a similar timeframe." Although Moya was not a first responder to the 911 call to Hackman's home, he was told that the property sprawled over 9,000 square feet and consisted of three structures. The fire chief explained that his paramedic told him once he returned from the Hackman residence that Gene, Betsy and their dog — who was later identified as Zinna — were found in the "same building." According to Moya, the property had three separate structures. "They checked every residence for gas leaks," he said. Hackman and Arakawa tested negative for carbon monoxide, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed at Friday's press conference. At the press conference, Mendoza also confirmed the last recorded activity on Hackman's pacemaker occurred on Feb. 17. Authorities assumed this was Hackman's last day alive, as the Oscar winner's body was not discovered for nine more days. "Just because both bodies were in similar ways where we, as experts, sad to say that we know a lot about how people die and how long people are dead for – both bodies are in a similar manner that it could be a similar timeframe." Moya told Fox News Digital that since he's been chief, which has been for three years, the Santa Fe Fire Department and emergency medical services (EMS) have not responded to any calls at the Hackman residence. WATCH: Gene Hackman and his wife's deaths 'could be a similar timeframe': fire chief According to Moya, the Santa Fe Fire Department was last involved with the investigation on Thursday, Feb. 27, and the case is in the Sheriff's Department's hands at this point. Circumstances surrounding the deaths of Hackman and Arakawa remain a mystery to Santa Fe, New Mexico, authorities as they work backwards and piece together evidence to figure out how the couple died. New Mexico officials found Hackman, Arakawa and one of their dogs dead in their home one week ago. Detectives described their deaths as "suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation," according to a search warrant affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital. Hackman and Arakawa were found by maintenance workers Jesse Kesler and Roland Lowe Begay. Kesler, who worked as a personal contractor for the couple for 16 years, made the frantic 911 call on Feb. 26. Detectives recovered two cellphones, an orange prescription bottle and a 2025 planner while inspecting the residence, the search warrant affidavit stated. Officials also revealed that Arakawa's body was found decomposed with bloating on her face and mummification in her hands and feet. Per the search warrant affidavit, the deceased dog was found "10-15 feet" from Arakawa in a closet of the bathroom. Hackman was also found to have the same signs of decomposition as his wife. According to the search warrant affidavit, Deputy Thomas suspected Hackman had "suddenly fallen" at the time of his death. WATCH: First responders haven't had any calls to Gene Hackman and his wife's home in over three years: fire chief Recently, sheriffs confirmed a misstep in the investigation after wrongly identifying the dog found dead in the Hackman home. The dog that was found dead near Arakawa's body was misidentified by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department in the investigation, Fox News Digital confirmed. The owner of Santa Fe Tails, the pet care facility that took in Hackman's two other surviving dogs, explained that the dead dog was a different breed than what is listed in the search warrant affidavit. Zinna, a mixed breed, was found in a kennel in a bathroom closet near Arakawa. However, investigators initially noted the discovery of a "deceased brown in color German-Shepard canine," the search warrant stated. Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Denise Womack-Avila acknowledged that deputies initially misidentified the breed of the deceased dog. "Our deputies, they don't work with canines on a daily basis," she said, according to The Associated Press. Arakawa and Hackman did have two German Shepherds: Bear, 4, and Nikita, 7.
