Gene Hackman’s Daughter Reveals Heartwarming Way His Dog Will Be Reunited With His Late Wife In Death

The world was stunned when the two-time Oscar-winning star Gene Hackman, 95, was found dead last month along with his 65 year-old wife Betsy Arakawa. Sadly, one of their three dogs, a 12 year-old Australian Kelpie mix named Zinna, was also found deceased with them.

Now, Hackman’s 62 year-old daughter Elizabeth, one of his three children from a previous marriage, is revealing the heartwarming way that Zinna and Arakawa will be reunited in death.

What Will Be Done With Zinna’s Remains?

On Friday, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office released body camera footage that included a phone call between a deputy and Elizabeth. In the call, Elizabeth can be heard asking the deputy who found the bodies to make sure that Zinna is cremated. She requested that Zinna’s remains then be buried with Arakawa. That way, the two of them can be together forever. Elizabeth’s only other request involving Zinna was that the dog’s collar be saved for her.

These deaths are obviously a huge tragedy. However, given how passionate Arakawa was about her dogs, it’s nice to know that she will be with Zinna for eternity.

I think that’s something we would all want.

Check out a portion of the body camera footage below.

Zinna, Arakawa, And Hackman Pass Away

This comes after the Santa Fe County animal control revealed that Zinna, whose full name was Zinfandel, tragically died due to being locked in her crate.

There was no sign of infectious disease, trauma, or poisoning in Zinna’s system. Her stomach was empty.

Full Story: Gene Hackman’s Poor Dog’s Cause Of Death Revealed in Tragedy

Robert Gruda, the owner of Gruda Veterinary Hospital, recently told USA Today that staffers at his hospital had recently told Arakawa to confine Zinna to a crate. This was to prevent the dog from running around after undergoing a major surgery in January.

“She was friendly, dutiful,” he said of Arakawa. “That’s how we make a living, with owners that care for their animals and see us consistently.”

Arakawa died of Hantavirus, a rare flu-like virus transmitted through rodent droppings. She likely passed away on February 12, which was when she made her last phone call. Until this phone call came to light, officials had believed that Arakawa died on February 11, which is when she was last seen on surveillance footage driving back into her gated community.

Hackman was alone in the home with the bodies for days before he died of heart disease sometime around February 18. It’s since been revealed that Hackman had advanced Alzheimer’s at the time of his death. This means that he may not have known or understood that Arakawa had died.

Hackman And Arakawa’s Other Dogs Save The Day

Their bodies were eventually found on February 26. At the time, Hackman and Arakawa’s other two dogs, Bear and Nikita, were found roaming the Santa Fe mansion freely.

Though officers found Arakawa and Zinna’s bodies right away, they struggled to find Hackman for 30 minutes. It was Bear and Nikita who then stepped up to help deputies find Hackman’s body in the mansion’s mudroom. Santa Fe Fire Department Chief Brian Moya explained that the dogs kept running up to officers, who thought they wanted to play at first. Eventually, they realized that they were actually trying to help.

“They realized [the dog] was trying to say, ‘Hey, come over here! Come over here!’” Moya told USA Today.

Bear and Nikita have since been re-homed. Find out more about how they helped officers find Hackman in the video below.

Related: Gene Hackman’s Surviving Dogs Find Loving Homes

Please join us in saying a prayer for this family’s loved ones during this tragic time. Rest in peace Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa, and Zinna.