With the mystery still looming around Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa’s deaths, matters escalate as authorities make a fateful mistake.
What was believed to be a dead brown-colored German Shepherd which was identified as the couple’s dog, Bear, turned out to have been falsely identified by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office (SFCSO). Turns out, Bear is alive and well.
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Where Bear is now
According to USA Today‘s Monday report, Bear was found alive and in perfect shape alongside the couple’s 7-year-old Akita-shepherd mix, Nikita, in a local pet daycare facility. Both dogs are healthy and being taken care of.
But what about the dead dog?
It was revealed that the dog that died in the couple’s multi-million dollar mansion in a closed crate was 12-year-old Australian Kelpie mixed-breed Zinna.
The late dog was trained in agility skills and was supposed to participate in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
The SFCSO spokeswoman weighed in
When asked about the mistaken dog identity, SFCSO spokeswoman Denise Womack-Avila told the New York Post: “Our deputies do not deal with canines on a daily basis and I cannot currently speak to the condition or state of the dog’s body upon discovery.”
What happened to Hackman and Arakawa
Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 64, were tragically found dead in their luxurious home, each in a separate room on February 26.
Officials revealed that the final “event” recorded on Hackman’s pacemaker was February 17.
Speculations around the cause of death
The couple’s cause of death is still unknown. It was initially believed that they might have died from carbon monoxide poisoning, but the sheriff’s office confirmed that they tested negative for the gas.
It took a long time for their bodies to be discovered
The couple’s death is still under investigation. However, given that their bodies were found in a mummified state, investigators concluded from this fact that they died a week or more before their bodies were discovered.
Could it have been foul play?
While investigators deemed the circumstances surrounding the late couple’s death “suspicious,” the sheriff’s office doesn’t suspect foul play.
Officials are still trying to figure out the timeline and the events that led to the couple’s sorrowful death.
Last Updated on March 5, 2025 by Amira Zidan
