Gene Hackman & Betsy Arakawa’s Friend Shares Update on Their Beloved Dogs
Gene Hackman & Betsy Arakawa’s Friend Gives an Update on Their Two Surviving Dogs
Following the couple’s unexpected death, a close acquaintance has provided a small consolation by sharing a comforting update regarding Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s two dog kids.
According to a longtime acquaintance of the pair, the two surviving dogs that belonged to the late actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa are secure and acclimating to their new life.
This update follows the February 26, 2025, discovery of Hackman and Arakawa’s bodies in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home.
A third dog, Zinfandel, also called Zinna, an Australian kelpie mix, was discovered dead with the pair. Officials said that when they found the scene, Zinna was inside a container ten to fifteen feet from Arakawa’s body.
Bear, a German shepherd, and Nikki, a German shepherd mix, the couple’s other two dogs, were discovered alive. The canines seemed to have had access to a doggy door, according to investigators.
According to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza, one dog was found close to Arakawa’s body, and the other was found outside the house.
Joey Padilla, who owns Santa Fe Tails, a nearby boarding facility that the couple regularly utilized for their pets, is currently caring for both of the surviving dogs.
ABC News reported that Padilla said, “They are safe and adjusting.” Additionally, he disclosed that he will keep taking care of the dogs until he gets more guidance on Arakawa’s desires for them.
The late couple were praised by Padilla, who called them “amazing friends and dog lovers.” “Those dogs were Betsy’s babies,” he continued.
Before the epidemic started, Padilla, who had known Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa for over a decade, recalled, he frequently went out to eat with them.
However, he saw Hackman less in recent years as Arakawa sought to limit her husband’s social interactions in order to safeguard his health.
Padilla remembered that he hadn’t seen Arakawa since she took Bear to Santa Fe Tails in January. He said, “She was the same old, just, you know, ‘Hey, how’s it going, good to see you.'” in reference to their last discussion.
He responded to the couple’s passing by saying, “I’m really saddened. They were genuinely decent individuals.
Though the precise circumstances are still unknown, a number of odd facts at the site have prompted a deeper investigation as officials look into the deaths of the famed actor and his wife.
Only a few weeks prior to her passing, Arakawa had maintained an email correspondence with a close friend, despite the couple’s increased seclusion in recent years.
People who knew them are now disclosing additional information about their last moments as officials attempt to piece together their last days.
The Growing Isolation of the Couple in the Past Few Years
Although Hackman and Arakawa had always prized their privacy, they grew even more reclusive as they aged. Previously frequent visitors remarked that the couple no longer invited guests, instead choosing to spend their time alone at their Santa Fe home.
Longtime friend and co-owner of a home décor company with Arakawa, Barbara Lenihan, recounted how their social circle shrank over time. Her words,
“People loved to be around them,” “We used to spend a lot of time at their house, but it’d been a while since they were comfortable having others over.”
Daniel Lenihan, her husband and a writer who has known Hackman for more than 30 years, acknowledged that it had been “years” since he had last laid eyes on him. No one had any suspicions about their increasing seclusion.
Until their unexpected deaths made others wonder what had actually been going on behind closed doors, friends thought Hackman and Arakawa were just living a peaceful life together.
The Most Recent Communication
Arakawa maintained contact with a few people despite the couple’s disengagement from most social interactions. Among them was Barbara, a longtime acquaintance who had corresponded with her via email in the weeks preceding her passing.
Arakawa showed no signs of worry, and nothing in their chats indicated that anything was amiss. Leslie Anne Allen, Hackman’s youngest daughter, also disclosed that she hadn’t spoken to her father or his spouse in some months.
Despite their recent lack of communication, she stated, “we were close,” and “everything was normal, and everything was good.” She gave Arakawa credit for caring for her father and ensuring his continued well-being. One individual in Arakawa’s life, though, had seen an odd quiet.
Every one or two months, Arakawa has made it a point to see her mother, Yoshie Feaster, 91, who resides in Hawaii, for years. However, in October 2024, Keiko, Feaster’s lifelong housekeeper, reported that the calls had suddenly ceased.
“We were thinking, what happened?” As months went by without hearing from Arakawa, Keiko revealed, they began to worry. Feaster didn’t really comprehend the devastating news when New Mexico authorities told her of her daughter’s death.
Feaster quickly forgot what had happened because she had dementia. Keiko remarked, “She was very upset,” “But right now, she’s kind of normal.” When a worker showed up at the couple’s house, the first indications of danger became evident because Arakawa’s silence had gone unreported for months and neither friends nor relatives had immediately raised any alarms.
The Startling Finding In Their House
A maintenance worker showed up at the Hackman and Arakawa residence outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on February 26, 2025. He saw something disturbing as he got closer. Through a window, Arakawa’s body was apparent, motionless. He dialed 911 right away.
The worker’s concern was caught in the heartfelt 911 call, in which he pleaded with authorities to act swiftly. He mumbled, “Damn,” over and over, obviously shaken by what he had witnessed. He added that he was unable to enter the residence since it was locked.
When deputies got there at 1:45 p.m., they discovered the front door was slightly open and unlocked. Investigators would have more questions than answers after what they found when they entered.
Strange Aspects of the Scene
Deputies discovered Hackman and Arakawa in different rooms within the house under mysterious circumstances. Wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt, slippers, and sweatpants, Hackman was found in the mudroom. He appeared to have fallen suddenly based on his position, but there were no obvious symptoms of trauma or damage.
Arakawa was discovered laying on the floor in a restroom close to the front door. On the adjoining tabletop were a few tablets and an open orange prescription bottle. Additionally, investigators observed a space heater near her body.
Two of the couple’s dogs were discovered alive, wandering the premises, while one was discovered dead inside a cupboard next to Betsy. Deputies discovered no evidence of forced entry, no visible wounds, and no quick explanation for their deaths despite the odd features.
Data from Gene’s Pacemaker Shows a Crucial Timeline
Investigators used medical records to determine when Hackman and Arakawa might have passed away because there was no apparent cause of death at the scene. Hackman’s pacemaker, which recorded its final cardiac event on February 17, 2025—nine days prior to their bodies being discovered—provided crucial proof.
Pacemakers can continue to work for a short time after death, according to cardiologist Dr. Barry Ramo, but the videotape probably captured Hackman’s last moments. According to Dr. Ramo, “The pacemaker stimulates the heart,” “Until it builds up all this toxic material, it can make the heart contract, but once that happens, the heart can no longer beat.”
According to his estimation, Hackman most likely passed away between forty-five and one hour before the pacemaker stopped working. This finding gave investigators a vital chronology, indicating that he had been dead for more than a week before being discovered.
It did not, however, provide an explanation for their deaths, thus officials were left to look into other options, such as the home’s atmosphere.
Was Betsy’s Decomposition Affected by the Space Heater?
Upon examining Arakawa’s remains, investigators discovered an odd detail: she had mummified hands and feet. Authorities questioned whether the space heater discovered close to her body had contributed to the decomposition, since experts clarified that this kind of decomposition happens in warm, dry settings.
According to forensic expert Joseph Scott Morgan, exposure to heat can drastically change the rate of decomposition. “Mummification occurs when you have heat and low humidity, and that’s exactly what happens when a body is near a heat source,” he said.
It might have been more difficult to pinpoint Arakawa’s precise moment of death if the heater had been present since her corpse might have dried up more quickly. Investigators also examined the tablets that were discovered in the vicinity of her.
Forensic specialists pointed out that although an overdose was one explanation, people who purposefully take a lethal dosage of drugs typically lie down in a controlled manner rather than collapse suddenly.
Authorities investigated if Arakawa had taken medication accidentally, experienced a medical emergency, or had other elements at play. Authorities looked to digital data for more hints because environmental factors made the inquiry more difficult.
Investigators Examining Medical Records and Unlocking Phones
Due to the lack of tangible evidence at the scene, detectives had to piece together Hackman and Arakawa’s last days using their personal electronics and documents. Medical records, a 2025 planner, and two green cell phones were found in the house by deputies, who took them all for additional analysis.
In an attempt to locate call logs, text messages, or emails that would indicate when the couple last spoke with others, authorities worked to unlock the phones. In order to ascertain whether Hackman or Arakawa had any underlying medical issues that might have played a role in their deaths, investigators also examined their medical records.
Bill Daly, a former FBI inspector, described how digital evidence could yield important information. “After receiving the cell phones, investigators can determine when they stopped moving, when they lost communication, which can tell the time of disablement or death,” he stated.
To eliminate out any medical occurrences or overdoses, they are also examining Arakawa’s prescription history and Hackman’s pacemaker data.
Those who knew the couple are in shock as officials go through these documents, finding it difficult to accept their untimely and terrible loss. The killings of Hackman and Arakawa remain a disturbing mystery until further information is revealed.
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