The unexpected deaths of esteemed actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, in their New Mexico home have cast a sorrowful light on an already mysterious event.
Hackman died from heart disease and Alzheimer's complications, while Arakawa succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, with their dog's starvation adding to the tragedy.
Sky News reported that authorities found the couple deceased in their Santa Fe residence, shocking those who knew them. Alongside them, an Australian kelpie mix called Zinfandel, affectionately named Zinna, was also found lifeless.
The dog had tragically died from starvation and dehydration, with its stomach nearly empty except for some hair and bile.
Zinna's death, while heartbreaking, adds a layer of intrigue to the overall situation. The absence of disease, trauma, or poisoning in the dog's demise compounds the enigma. Authorities found Zinna enclosed in a crate within a bathroom closet close to where Arakawa's body was discovered.
Two other dogs present in the household managed to survive the ordeal. In a turn of events, these surviving animals assisted search officers.
Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya stated that these dogs helped authorities find Hackman's body after a prolonged search spanning over half an hour.
The investigating officers eventually located Hackman's body in the home's entryway. Arakawa's body was found in the bathroom, with an orange prescription bottle lying nearby. The advanced decomposition of both bodies, attributed to the dry Santa Fe climate, highlighted the elapsed time before their tragic discovery.
The cause of Hackman's death was linked to heart disease, with Alzheimer's disease contributing to his demise. Dr. Heather Jarrell from the New Mexico Medical Investigator's Office noted that Hackman's pacemaker stopped recording activity on February 18, providing a potential date of death.
Arakawa was determined to have died about a week earlier from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. This condition, often contracted from rodent droppings, proved fatal. Sheriff Adan Mendoza revealed that Arakawa had picked up the now-dead dog Zinna from a procedure on February 9.
Prior to her death, Arakawa engaged in several known activities. She sent emails to her therapist and visited various locations on February 11, including a local market. CCTV footage captured her visiting both a pharmacy and a pet food shop around this date.
Dr. Jarrell suggests that Arakawa likely passed on February 11. Hackman's Alzheimer's might have clouded his awareness of her passing.
The respective timelines provide a framework for understanding the events leading up to this calamitous discovery.
The peculiar circumstances of these deaths prompted a comprehensive investigation by law enforcement. Despite ruling out external trauma, authorities began piecing together the puzzle of how such an incident could have occurred undetected for days.
The surviving animals, resilient in their nature, inadvertently guided officers, allowing the identification and retrieval of Hackman's body. The incident underscores the unforeseen roles these pets played during the discovery process.
