Open questions

Death of Hackman’s dog “Zinna” still unexplained

Gene Hackman and his wife died in tragic circumstances.

(Bild: AFP/HECTOR MATA)

The death of actor Gene Hackman (95) and his wife Betsy Arakawa (63) is an incomprehensible human tragedy. While the official causes of their deaths are now known, the fate of their dog "Zinna" has not yet been fully clarified. 

Gene Hackman, two-time Oscar winner, was found dead in his home in New Mexico. The authorities announced that he died as a result of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Hackman also suffered from Alzheimer's disease, which may have played a role in the tragic circumstances. His wife, Betsy Arakawa, died about a week earlier from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome - a rare but serious respiratory disease transmitted by rodent feces. 

Dehydration and starvation likely
The couple's female dog, a 12-year-old Australian-Kelpie mix named "Zinna", was found dead with the couple in a locked crate or dog box near Arakawa's body on February 26. However, the exact circumstances of her death are still unclear, but according to New Mexico State Health Veterinarian Erin Phipps, she may have died of dehydration and starvation.

Dr. Erin Phipps (pictured right) at the press conference held by Sheriff Adan Mendoza and Dr. Heather Jarrell, New Mexico's medical investigator

(Bild: Eddie Moore)

Was it a tragic set of circumstances?
"Given the timelines presented, it's a possibility," Phipps said at a March 7 press conference. Investigators suspect that Hackman's advanced Alzheimer's disease played a role and he may not have been aware that his wife Arakawa was already deceased - or that "Zinna" was locked in the house.

According to Sheriff Adan Mendoza, Arakawa had her dog medicated shortly before her death. "We know from our investigation that she picked up 'Zinna' from Gruda Veterinary Hospital on February 9, 2025," Mendoza said. "There was surgery performed on the dog, which could explain why the dog was in a crate in the apartment."

The results of "Zinna's" autopsy are still pending. However, experts believe it is highly unlikely that she died from hantavirus. "Dogs do not get sick from hantavirus," Phipps clarified. According to the investigators, Arakawa may have contracted the virus in sheds on the property, where there is evidence of rodent infestation.

The events surrounding the deaths of Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa and their dog "Zinna" paint a harrowing picture. There are many indications of a chain of tragic circumstances that tragically ended the lives of this well-known couple and their beloved pet.