Loyal until the very end — Gene Hackman’s dog did more than mourn. As first responders combed through his home, the devoted pet led them to a heartbreaking discovery.
In Santa Fe, first responders made an unexpected find at Gene Hackman’s home when one of his dogs relentlessly guided them to a shocking location.
When the Santa Fe Fire Department and County Sheriff’s Office arrived in response to a call for help, they found the front door open. Paramedics entered the home and immediately discovered Betsy Arakawa, Hackman’s wife, lying unresponsive on the bathroom floor.
Fire Chief Brian Moya stated that she appeared deceased, prompting paramedics to retreat and call for backup as per protocol.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived shortly after, assisting paramedics and firefighters in thoroughly inspecting the house.
Arakawa’s body showed clear signs of decomposition, and a prescription bottle of thyroid medication, along with loose pills, was found on the bathroom counter.
The search continued as responders checked every room, closet, and hallway, looking for any other people or potential evidence of foul play.
After 30 minutes with no other findings, one of the dogs began approaching the responders, barking and running off before returning. Initially, they thought the dog was playing, but then realized the dog was trying to lead them. “It was trying to say, ‘Hey, come over here!’” Chief Moya explained.
After following the dog’s persistent cues, responders were led to a mudroom near the kitchen, where they found Hackman’s body on the floor. His cane and sunglasses were nearby, and his hands showed decomposition signs.
A back door had been left open, allowing the dogs to move freely in and out.
Surveillance footage revealed that Arakawa had visited a pharmacy on February 11, the last known day she was seen alive. That day, she ran errands and sent an email, but she missed one stop — a trip to pick up prescription dog food and medication for one of her pets. Her failure to do so raised concerns among the veterinary staff who knew her well.
Robert Gruda, the veterinary hospital’s owner, said it was uncharacteristic of Arakawa not to pick up the order. “She was devoted to those dogs,” Gruda explained, noting how she always took excellent care of her pets.
Arakawa’s last visit to the vet was in late January when she picked up Zinna after surgery. She had been instructed to limit the dog’s movement during recovery.
Authorities recently admitted to an error in their investigation, which has added new questions to the case. Santa Fe Fire Chief Moya has offered a theory on what might have happened to Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 63.
Hackman and Arakawa were found deceased at their home on February 26, 2025. New Mexico authorities discovered the open front door and deemed the situation suspicious enough to warrant further investigation.
Maintenance workers, who hadn’t seen the couple in two weeks, made the discovery. The workers called 911 after finding them unresponsive, and when deputies arrived, they saw one dog roaming the property and another near Arakawa’s body. A third dog was found dead in a bathroom closet.
Investigators later clarified that the dog found deceased wasn’t a German Shepherd, but Zinna, a 12-year-old Australian Kelpie mix. Zinna had previously trained for agility events at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
The investigation revealed a displaced space heater and a pill bottle with pills scattered nearby. Hackman’s body was found in a separate room off the kitchen, and Arakawa’s body was discovered in the bathroom, indicating she may have fallen.
Initially suspected as a gas leak, authorities ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning after thorough testing, with the New Mexico Gas Company confirming there were no issues with the residence’s pipes.
Chief Moya has theorized that Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths may have occurred around the same time, especially since their bodies were in similar states of decomposition.
The home’s layout and size, covering over 9,000 square feet, made it challenging to locate the bodies. Still, responders confirmed all three — Hackman, Arakawa, and their dog — were found within the same structure.
Sheriff Adan Mendoza shared that Hackman’s pacemaker recorded activity on February 17, 2025, which is believed to be the day he passed, though he wasn’t discovered until nearly a week later.
Friends and colleagues of Hackman and Arakawa, who knew them as devoted animal lovers, were shocked by their sudden deaths, especially since the couple had always treated their pets like family. Hackman’s connection to German Shepherds, in particular, was well-known, and the couple had supported animal welfare causes for years.
Despite their increasing seclusion in recent years, their close friends and family are still reeling from the news of their deaths. Arakawa had even kept up communication with a few people before her death, but her sudden lack of contact with her 91-year-old mother in Hawaii raised concern.
The tragic loss has left their community in mourning, and Hackman’s legacy continues to be remembered through his remarkable film career. As Morgan Freeman recently said, “He won the hearts of film lovers all over the world.”