Police Investigate Misidentification of Dog Found Dead with Gene Hackman and His Wife in Santa Fe New Mexico

Police Misidentify Dog Found in the Home

In a shocking twist, authorities investigating the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have admitted to mistakenly identifying one of the dogs discovered with them.

The couple was found dead in their $3.8 million Santa Fe, New Mexico, home last Wednesday afternoon by a caretaker

. Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 63, were found in separate rooms, and initially, police reported that their German Shepherd, Bear, was found deceased alongside them.

However, it was later revealed that Bear was alive and healthy, staying at a pet daycare center in Santa Fe with the couple’s other dog, Nikita.

The Truth About the Dog Found in the Home

The dog that was actually found deceased in the home was Zinna, a 12-year-old Australian Kelpie mix, not Bear as originally stated.

Sherry Gaber, a close friend of the couple and an animal chiropractor, confirmed the mix-up.

Gaber was already devastated by the news of Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths, but the confusion regarding Bear’s death left her unable to comprehend what had happened.

“I can’t handle that image,” Gaber said, recalling the initial reports of Bear’s death.

“That’s why this whole thing is so distressing.

It just doesn’t add up.” Gaber had adjusted Bear just five months prior, noting that the dog was happy and in good health at the time.

Questions Surround the Misidentification

Both Bear and Nikita were at Santa Fe Tails, a local pet daycare facility, according to the owner, Joey Padilla.

It’s unclear how the mix-up occurred, and a spokesperson for the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, Denise Womack-Avila, stated that she wasn’t aware of the error.

“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,” she explained.

This misidentification has added to the confusion surrounding the tragic deaths of the couple, with questions still lingering about the circumstances.

As this is a developing story, more updates will follow as authorities continue their investigation.