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Gene Hackman's daughter, Elizabeth, made a touching request to law enforcement following the discovery of her father and stepmother's bodies at their Santa Fe home in late February.
According to newly released bodycam footage obtained by TMZ on Friday, Elizabeth asked police to cremate the couple's deceased dog, Zinna, and bury its ashes with her stepmother, Betsy Arakawa.
The footage, taken during a phone call between an officer and Elizabeth on February 27, captures the emotional moment when the 63-year-old asked police to save Zinna's collar if the dog was wearing one.
The call occurred just one day after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, were discovered at their residence.
Devastating details of the discovery
Authorities found Zinna, one of three dogs owned by the couple, dead in a crate inside a bathroom closet near Arakawa's body. According to the autopsy report, the dog likely died from starvation and dehydration, with very little inside its stomach before death.
The report noted that Zinna's body was partially mummified, which may have obscured changes in the organs. However, there was no evidence of poisoning, disease, or trauma contributing to the animal's death.
Footage from February 26 also showed deputies speaking with a groundskeeper who emotionally described his relationship with the couple, saying, "They treat me really well. She was a sweetheart and to see them like that..." The man's voice trailed off as he became choked up.
Cause of death for Hackman and Arakawa
Autopsy reports confirmed that Gene Hackman died from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The report also indicated he had advanced Alzheimer's disease, which contributed to his death.
Meanwhile, Betsy Arakawa ed away from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a rare disease transmitted by rodents. Authorities initially believed Arakawa had died on February 11, with Hackman following on February 18, which was the last date recorded on his pacemaker.
However, the timeline was adjusted after it was revealed that Arakawa made a phone call to her doctor the day after her previously assumed date of death.
Legal battle over sensitive photos
A Santa Fe judge recently ruled that photos of the couple's partially mummified bodies would not be released to the public. T
he decision was made after a representative of Hackman's estate requested a temporary restraining order to block the release of autopsy and investigative reports, including images of their home's interior. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for March 31.
Gene Hackman is survived by his children: Elizabeth, Leslie (58), and Christopher (65), all from his previous marriage to Faye Maltese. The tragic deaths of Hackman, Arakawa, and their dog have left their family and those close to them devastated.