In late February 2025 news of shocking de@ths arrived when legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa passed away unexpectedly.
The authorities secretly examined the scene because the couple passed away in their private home in Santa Fe New Mexico. The team found both victims still inside plus the body of their pet dog Zinna.
Too many days passed with no contact to Hackman and Arakawa so authorities performed a welfare check at their home.
The police saw Hackman and Arakawa de@d in different rooms during their entry. Responders found Hackman resting at the home entrance while Arakawa occupied the bathroom. After a visit to the vet their dog Zinna stayed inside a crate.
The investigation began because no one had seen the couple for a number of days. Arakawa d!ed on February 11 because of hantavirus which he caught by being exposed to infected rodents.
The pacemaker showed Hackman’s de@th on February 18 due to his heart disease and Alzheimer’s symptoms combined with his Alzheimer’s disease. Zinna suffered and d!ed from dehydration after her parents had already lost their lives.
The latest police bodycam videos reveal what happened within the family during their investigation. The video shows Elizabeth Hackman quietly discussing what to do with her parents’ deceased pet as she stands in the scene.
She made her last pleas to the officers by asking for Zinna to be cremated and buried in the same grave as her mother Betsy.
Elizabeth wanted to save Zinna’s dog collar to help her remember the loyal pet who lived with her family through many years. “If the dog was wearing a collar, could you save that for me?” Severe emotions shined through her tone when she spoke these words to law enforcement.
This tiny detail symbolized the deep pain felt by the family after such major losses happened to their family.
The cameras showed sad moments when workers talked about their findings with the couple. Based on the interview with staff the dogs resided inside throughout their lives and never experienced exploring the outdoors.
“They’re never supposed to be out, and so at that point I knew something was wrong,” the staff member shared. As the staff member checked the records he discovered that this property belonged to Gene Hackman.
After initial suspicions about criminal action the inquiry found both entry and sign of a physical confrontation were absent from the house.
Despite official rulings of natural de@ths authorities remained unsatisfied after learning how Hackman and Arakawa passed away.
Experts found out that Hackman d!ed after his wife because his pacemaker showed this evidence. Expert opinions suggested Hackman might not have identified his wife’s de@th before passing away himself.
Before their passing the Hackman family lived an acclaimed existence quietly in private until Burial rituals that unfolded mainly due to accidental reasons showed someone grieving the end to their famous life.
The public mourns Gene Hackman along with Betsy Arakawa’s passing and laments Zinna’s last moments.
People feel more emotional about this subject because the family wanted privacy plus relevant footage broke their wishes.
The shared bodycam footage shows viewers that illness, true feelings, and the clock made up the last moments of the Hackman family.
Feature Image Credit: (Facebook / Animal Rescue, Inc.) (AP) (Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office) (Rafael Fountoura)