A heartbreaking new report has surfaced regarding the fate of Zinna, the late Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s dog, revealing that the animal likely died from starvation and dehydration.
Authorities discovered Zinna’s partially mummified remains inside a crate, locked in a bathroom closet in the couple’s Santa Fe home, following the deaths of both Hackman and Arakawa.
Investigators noted that the kelpie mix had almost no food in its stomach, with contents primarily consisting of hair and bile, suggesting it had gone without nourishment for a prolonged period.
A necropsy ruled out trauma, poisoning, or any infectious diseases, concluding that the dog likely suffered a slow and painful death due to a lack of food and water.
Arakawa, who passed away first, succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare and deadly virus carried by rodents.
Just about a week later, Hackman was also found dead, with officials citing heart disease complicated by Alzheimer’s as the cause. The couple’s other two dogs were found alive and were reportedly the ones who led first responders to Hackman’s body.
