The authorities arrived at Gene Hackman’s Santa Fe home on February 26, 2025, after a report was made. He and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead there. She had died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome days before, while Hackman died from hypertensive cardiovascular disease, with a contributing condition of Alzheimer’s disease.
His pacemaker registered its last known reading on February 18 and showed his heart was in an irregular rhythm. His medical histories also reported advanced heart disease, evidence of multiple prior heart attacks, and kidney damage caused by years of high blood pressure. Hackman is believed to have spent a few days at home alone with his wife’s body before he passed away.
Gene Hackman’s dogs helped locate his body
Although the police were able to find the body of Betsy Arakawa quickly, it was difficult to locate Hackman. The residence had a number of rooms, and they spent nearly 30 minutes before locating him in a mudroom behind the kitchen. They only discovered him when the other two dogs the couple had, Bear and Nikita, started acting strangely.
As the first responders moved inside the house, the dogs paced and attempted to lead them in a particular direction. Realizing the dogs were trying to tell them something, authorities followed them. The dogs took them to the mud room near the kitchen, where they eventually discovered Hackman’s body.
How did Gene Hackman’s dogs survive?
The couple had three dogs, but two survived. One of the dogs, Zinna, was found dead in her crate, possibly due to a recent surgery that had led to complications. Bear and Nikita survived, however. An open back door allowed them to move freely outside to eat and drink, and this probably kept them from starving during the time between when their owners died and when they were found.
The dogs went back to the shelter after the rescue. The owner, who remembers Hackman and Arakawa as good caretakers, is taking care of them with the intention to comply with the final wishes the couple might have had for their pets.