Latest news with #SantaFeTails
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gene Hackman's Daughter Suggests Burying Beloved Dog with Wife Betsy in Newly Released Bodycam Video
Gene Hackman's daughter wants the actor's dog to be buried with his wife. New bodycam footage from the day after the Oscar winner, 95, and his wife Betsy Hackman were found dead at their New Mexico property last month shows the late actor's daughter Elizabeth ensuring that the final resting place of their kelpie mix Zinna is alongside Betsy, 65. In the Feb. 27 bodycam footage, which PEOPLE obtained from the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office as part of the Hackman investigation, an officer calls Elizabeth, 62, from inside a police vehicle to ask what to do with the body of the beloved dog, who was found dead in the home alongside the late couple. Initially, Elizabeth — the middle child of Gene's three kids — asks the officer if cremation is an option for Zinna and, once the animal control officer confirms that it is, she tells him, 'I'm thinking cremate the dog and bury it with Betsy.' 'And,' she later requested, 'if the dog is wearing a collar, could you save that for me?' Related: Gene Hackman's Life in Photos Another bodycam video captured outside the couple's residence on Feb. 26 depicts a dog trainer who knew the couple recalling how much the actor and the classical pianist — who had two other dogs, Bear and Nikita, in addition to Zinna — 'loved' their pets. (The Hackmans' estate has been granted a temporary block on all photos, videos and police bodycam footage depicting the interior of their residence.) 'They were dog nuts,' said Joey Padilla, the owner of a local pet daycare and training facility, Santa Fe Tails, who told authorities he had previously worked with the couple's dogs. 'You can see, there's toys everywhere around their property,' he added in the footage. 'They loved their dogs.' 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. Prior to marrying Betsy in 1991, Gene welcomed his three children with his first wife Faye Maltese: Christopher, 63, Elizabeth, 61, and Leslie, 57. Following his death, daughters Elizabeth and Leslie, as well as the late actor's granddaughter Annie Hackman, shared a statement with PEOPLE. "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy,' the statement read. 'He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.' The causes of Gene and Betsy's deaths were revealed in March, weeks after they were found dead. The pianist died from hantavirus, a flu-like virus linked to rodent droppings, while her actor husband died a week later from a combination of severe heart disease, high blood pressure and advanced Alzheimer's disease. Meanwhile, Zinna likely died of dehydration and starvation, Santa Fe County animal control previously revealed. Padilla — who took care of the couple's surviving dogs, Bear and Nikita, following their deaths — previously told the Associated Press that the late kelpie mix "was always attached to Betsy at the hip and it was a beautiful relationship." Zinna "went from being a returned shelter dog to this incredible companion under Betsy's hand," he added at the time. Read the original article on People
The Independent
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's two surviving dogs find new homes weeks after sudden deaths
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's two surviving dogs have been placed in new homes. The bodies of Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, were discovered in their sprawling Santa Fe, New Mexico home on February 26 by a caretaker. One of their dogs, Zinna, was found dead in a crate near Arakawa. The couple's two surviving dogs, Bear and Nikita, were found on the property. The two dogs were initially placed with a local pet daycare. But now, they've been separated, according to the Daily Mail. Joey Padilla, the owner of Santa Fe Tails where Bear and Nikita were temporarily housed, confirmed the German Shephard and Akita-shepherd mix have been sent to new homes. Padilla couldn't share further details on the new owners but did reveal that one dog was placed in a home out-of-state after the couple's estate lawyer approved the decision. 'We went through stringent efforts to ensure the best homes were found and the dogs have already begun settling into their new lives,' Padilla said in a statement. 'We are all thankful for the concern and well wishes Bear and Nikita have received during their transition.' Padilla, 42, developed a close bond with Hackman and Arakawa, who together invested in Santa Fe Tails and another of Padilla's businesses, the Mail reports. He said people from around the country offered to take the dogs in after the tragic deaths of the Oscar winner and his wife rattled the nation. Arakawa collapsed in the bathroom and died of hantavirus about a week before Hackman, according to chief medical examiner Heather Jarrell. Initial reports believed Arakawa died on February 11. However, the latest update from the Santa Fe Sheriff's Office revealed that Arakawa made a phone call to Cloudberry Health to speak with a doctor on February 12. Hackman was found dead in the home's mudroom, and is believed to have died on February 18. His cause of death was ruled to be heart disease, with Alzheimer's as a contributing factor. Officials believe it's possible he wasn't aware Arakawa had died. A necropsy conducted by the State Department of Agriculture's veterinary lab determined Zinna's cause of death was dehydration and starvation. The 12-year-old Australian Kelpie mixed breed recently had a major surgery requiring it to be kept in a crate. Funeral plans for the couple have not yet been made.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gene Hackman's dog likely died of starvation and dehydration, necropsy report finds
The dog belonging to actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa that was found dead along with the couple in their New Mexico home last month likely died of dehydration and starvation, according to a newly released report. The dog, an Australian kelpie mix named Zinfandel or "Zinna," was found dead in a crate about 10 to 15 feet from Arakawa's body when the couple was discovered on Feb. 26, according to officials. MORE: Gene Hackman's wife died of hantavirus; actor died of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's: Officials A necropsy report from the Santa Fe Animal Control, dated Thursday, stated there was "severe postmortem decomposition with partial mummification.' The report noted that the dog's stomach was "mostly empty except for very small amounts of hair and bile." 'If the dog was in a confined space without access to food or water, the dog most likely died of dehydration/starvation," the report stated. Hackman, 95, died of cardiovascular and Alzheimer's disease likely around Feb. 18, about one week after his wife, officials said. Arakawa, 65, died on about Feb. 11 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease transmitted through rodent urine, droppings or saliva, officials said. Her body showed signs of decomposition; there was mummification to her hands and feet, according to a search warrant affidavit. Hackman was likely home with his deceased wife for one week before he died, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said. There was no food in his stomach, which means he had not eaten recently, but he had also no evidence of dehydration, officials said. The Academy Award-winning actor and his wife were found dead during a Feb. 26 welfare check, with no obvious signs of how they died, the sheriff's office said. Their two other dogs were found alive. It appeared they had access to a doggy door; one dog was found near Arakawa's body and the other was located outside, according to the sheriff. MORE: Gene Hackman's 2 surviving dogs are 'safe and adjusting,' friend says Joey Padilla, who owns Santa Fe Tails, where Hackman and Arakawa often boarded their dogs, told ABC News earlier this month that he had the two surviving dogs in his care. "They are safe and adjusting," Padilla said. "I will be holding on to them until I get word on what Betsy's wishes for these dogs are." "Gene and Betsy were amazing friends and dog lovers," he said. "Those dogs were Betsy's babies." Gene Hackman's dog likely died of starvation and dehydration, necropsy report finds originally appeared on
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gene Hackman's Dog Played Key Role in Death Investigation
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 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 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.'
New York Times
05-03-2025
- New York Times
Gene Hackman's 2 Surviving Dogs Are Healthy and Safe, Boarder Says
Even those who knew very little about the lives of the retired actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, still knew that they loved their dogs. Mr. Hackman and Ms. Arakawa, who were found dead last week in their home, had rarely been seen in public in recent years, but when they were spotted in their neighborhood they were often walking their dogs or driving with them in the back. Neighbors said the couple brightened up when they met a fellow dog lover. So, amid the shock of their deaths, people who knew the couple have also been mourning that one of their three dogs was found dead in a crate in the home. 'Betsy and Gene were incredible dog parents,' Joey Padilla, the owner of Santa Fe Tails, which provides dog day care, training and boarding, said in a statement. 'They knew the importance of good training, a healthy diet and socialization. There was nothing they wouldn't do for the well-being of their dogs.' Mr. Padilla said the dog that died was named Zinna and was an Australian Kelpie mix, a breed of dogs known for their loyalty. Zinna was once a returned shelter dog, Mr. Padilla said, but had turned into an 'incredible companion under Betsy's hand.' Two other dogs, both German shepherds, were found alive on the property. The surviving dogs, Bear and Nikita, are 'healthy and receiving the best care in a familiar environment,' Mr. Padilla said. He said he was waiting to hear from Ms. Arakawa's lawyer about what to do with them. Investigators with the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office had previously said that all three dogs were German shepherds. 'Our deputies don't deal with dogs on a daily basis,' said Denise Womack-Avila, a spokeswoman for the office. 'I could see how they could have assumed it was just another German shepherd,' she said about Zinna, the dog that died. Ms. Womack-Avila said it was unclear how long Zinna was dead before the couple was discovered at their home on Feb. 26. Data from Mr. Hackman's pacemaker last showed activity on Feb. 17, meaning the couple could have been dead for as long as nine days before they were found. It is also not clear whether Zinna, found in the crate, had access to any food or water. How long dogs can survive without sustenance depends on their age, health and other factors, but veterinarians say that they generally cannot survive more than three days without water and five days without food. Officials have said that the two surviving dogs had access to the property's yard through a back door that either was open or had a dog door. There are still few answers as to how the couple may have died. Mr. Hackman, 95, was found on the floor of the home's mudroom, near his cane, while Ms. Arakawa, 65, was found on the bathroom floor, beside a counter with pills scattered about. The police recovered several common medications from the home, including Tylenol, heart medication and thyroid medication. Experts have said that it would be possible, but not typical or easy, to overdose on some of those medications. Mr. Hackman and Ms. Arakawa were famously private, living at the end of a cul-de-sac in a gated community known as Santa Fe Summit, east of the city. The police have said that there was no security camera footage from inside or outside the home. They would be reviewing data from two cellphones at the house, they said, and trying to determine when someone last had contact with the couple. The key, the police said, may be in toxicology results from the bodies, which are pending. Sheriff Adan Mendoza said the police had essentially ruled out carbon monoxide, given that both bodies tested negative for the potentially lethal gas.
