An in-depth examination of the deceased dog, discovered alongside renowned actor Gene Hackman and his beloved wife Betsy Hackman in their Santa Fe abode, has unveiled dehydration and starvation as the probable culprits behind the loyal animal's untimely demise. The veterinary lab report, acquired by The Associated Press from the state Department of Agriculture, delves into partial mummification and acknowledges that though severe decomposition might have obscured internal organ alterations, no traces of infectious diseases, physical trauma, or poisoning were detected that could have contributed to its passing.
The report further highlights that the dog's stomach, identified as Zinna, a kelpie mix and one of the trio of pets belonging to the couple, was nearly empty, containing mere remnants of hair and bile. Zinna was found in a crate, tucked away in a bathroom closet close to Betsy Hackman's body, while her two fellow canine companions miraculously survived.
Authorities confirmed last week that Gene Hackman succumbed to heart disease compounded by Alzheimer's, approximately a week after his wife was claimed by hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare rodent-borne illness. Amid the advanced stages of Alzheimer's, Hackman remained unaware of his wife's passing. Hackman was discovered in the home's entryway, while his wife lay in a bathroom. Similar to Zinna, their bodies underwent decomposition accompanied by mummification, a result of their body types and the arid, high-altitude climate of Santa Fe, perched nearly 7,200 feet (2,200 meters) above sea level.
Despite both deaths being attributed to natural causes, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office is finalizing the investigation by synchronizing the timeline with insights garnered from the cellphones recovered at the residence and the last communications made. "The case remains active until we have all the information to seamlessly connect the timeline," remarked Denise Womack Avila, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office. Zinna, once a returned shelter dog, blossomed into an exemplary companion, never straying far from Betsy Hackman's side, recounted Joey Padilla, the owner of Santa Fe Tails pet care facility tasked with caring for the surviving dogs.
Betsy Hackman, a Hawaii native and a former concert pianist, pursued her studies at the University of Southern California and crossed paths with Hackman in the mid-1980s while working at a California gym. Hackman, a Hollywood legend, garnered two Academy Awards throughout his storied film career spanning from the 1960s to his retirement in the early 2000s, including notable works in "The French Connection," "Hoosiers," and "Superman." The couple led a secluded life in Santa Fe for decades. A representative for their estate has invoked their privacy in seeking to restrain the public disclosure of autopsy and investigative reports pertaining to their deaths, particularly photographs and videos. The fate of this request now rests with a state district judge.
