Gene Hackman's Daughter Makes Heartbreaking Request Regarding the Couple's Deceased Dog
By all accounts, Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s three dogs were beloved members of their family. Which explains why Hackman’s daughter Elizabeth made two specific requests of the Sante Fe County Sheriff’s Office regarding Zinna, the Australian kelpie-mix who died with the couple, in a crate just a few feet from where Arakawa’s body was discovered.
As TMZ reported, the Sheriff's Office released bodycam footage that gave some further details about the aftermath of the tragic discovery that the couple had passed away.
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In one part of the clip, Elizabeth is speaking with a deputy officer regarding what she would like to do with the body of Zinna, the pup found with Arakawa. Knowing how much her stepmother loved her dogs, and vice versa, Elizabeth suggested that the dog be cremated and buried with Betsy in a final act of togetherness.
But, clearly understanding how much the trio of pooches meant to the couple, Elizabeth had a second request: That if Zinna had been wearing a collar, she asked if that could be removed so that she could keep it as a reminder of her departed family members.
As has previously been reported, the bodies of Hackman and Arakawa were found at their Santa Fe, New Mexico home on Wednesday, February 26—though it is guessed that Arakawa died about a week before this, followed by Hackman some days later.
Zinna, who was reportedly recovering from a medical procedure and on crate rest, is presumed to have died from dehydration and starvation as it’s believed that Hackman was not able to care for the canine.
The couple’s two remaining dogs, Bear and Nikita, had been staying with their friend Joey Padilla, who owns Santa Fe Tails, a local doggie daycare and boarding facility. He also helped to find the dogs new forever homes—one nearby, one of out state.
“Gene and Betsy had so much love for her dogs,” Padilla told the Daily Mail. “There was nothing they would not do for those dogs.”