Zinna, Gene Hackman’s 12-year-old dog who was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ in his owners’ home last month, likely died from dehydration and starvation, according to a reported examination done on the deceased canine.

The ᴀssociated Press obtained a report from the state Department of Agriculture’s veterinary lab which describes partial mummification on the dog and stated that – while there is a chance the severe decomposition could have concealed changes in the organs – there was no evidence an infectious disease, trauma or poisoning led to Zinna’s death.

Most of Zinna’s stomach was empty aside for small quanтιтies of hair and bile, the report states.

Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, were both found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at their home last month and their deaths were ruled to be due to natural causes. Zinna, who had recently undergone a medical procedure, was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ in a crate in the bathroom, the same room where Arakawa was also found. 

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza previously said that Arakawa had picked up Zinna in a crate from a Santa Fe veterinarian on February 9, which could explain why the dog was found inside the encasement. 

Arakawa is said to have died just two days later, on February 11.  

Zinna, Gene Hackman’s 12-year-old dog who was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ in his owner’s home last month, likely died from dehydration and starvation, according to a reported examination done on the deceased canine; the late couple pictured with their two former dogs, Maisie and Roscoe

An investigation into the deaths is still being completed by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, who are using information gained from cell phones gathered at the residence in addition to last contacts made to finish the timeline of events, according to the AP.

‘The case is considered active until we have that information to tie up the timeline,’ Denise Womack Avila, a spokesperson for the sheriff, said, according to the AP.

Zinna, who was once a returned shelter dog, was a loyal companion who was constantly nearby Arakawa, according to Joey Padilla, the owner of Santa Fe Tails, a pet care facility is caring for the surviving dogs.

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Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found deceased in separate rooms of their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on February 26, but investigators later determined that Arakawa died around February 11 at age 65, while Hackman died days later on February 18 at age 95.

Arakawa was found lying on her side in the bathroom, an apparent victim of the rodent-borne hantavirus, a rare disease in the US. Zinna was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ inside a crate in the same room.

Hackman is believed to have died around a week after his wife, likely from heart disease. He also showed ‘evidence of advanced Alzheimer’s disease.’

The couple’s two other dogs, German Shepherd Bear and Akita-shepherd mix Nikita, survived.

The two dogs were found by first responders roaming freely on the couple’s sprawling Santa Fe estate.

Police, paramedics and the Fire Department rushed to the home on February 26 after a caretaker made the grisly discovery of Arakawa’s ᴅᴇᴀᴅ body. 

However, they were then unable to immediately locate Hackman and after over 30 minutes they had still not found the Oscar winning actor.

During the first responders’ search for Hackman it was one of his dogs which guided them to his body 

Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found deceased in separate rooms of their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico , on February 26, but investigators later determined that Arakawa died around February 11 at age 65, while Hackman died days later on February 18 at age 95; pictured 2003

During their search one of the dogs constantly ran up to them barking and running off in different locations.

The first responders thought they wanted to play however this was not the case. 

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

Once they followed the dog it led them to Hackman’s body in the mudroom which the dog then sat next to.

Hackman and Arakawa’s sprawling home in Santa Fe. Their pet dogs –  German Shepherd Bear and Akita-shepherd mix Nikita – were found by first responders roaming freely on the mansion’s grounds 

One of their dogs Nikita was ‘skittish because of all the commotion’ and refused to leave the sides of both of her owners, the authorities said.

Both dogs who are now in a boarding facility until the couple’s wills are read and they can be rehomed.

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The autopsy of the couple revealed that Arakawa died about a week before Hackman on February 11.

Her cause of death was Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome – a rare rat-borne disease that produces flu-like symptoms but can be ᴅᴇᴀᴅly with a 38 per cent death rate according to the CDC. 

Hackman died around February 18, before the couple’s mummified remains were found in separate rooms of their $3.8 million home on February 26.

Both were found decomposed and partially-mummified. The cold, dry air of the New Mexico desert climate likely helped preserve their skin and tissues. 

Dr. Heather Jarrell, Chief Medical Investigator for the state of New Mexico, said their deaths had both been ruled as natural, and that no signs of internal or external trauma were found.

Their dog Zinna was picked up from a veterinary hospital on February 9 after undergoing a procedure, which may explain why it was found in a kennel, according to authorities. 

Jarrell said there was no reliable method to get an exact time for death, but concluded that Hackman probably died around February 18.

Hackman and Arakawa at the Academy Awards in 1993. He met Arakawa, a classically trained pianist who grew up in Hawaii, when she was working part-time at a California gym in the mid-1980s

She also said that it was likely Hackman didn’t even realize his wife had died due to his advanced Alzheimer’s. 

In a full timeline of events, officials said that Arakawa had picked up their dog Zinna from a vet hospital after the dog underwent treatment on February 9.

On February 11, they said she had an email conversation with her mᴀssage therapist before later in the afternoon going to a farmers market.

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She was caught on CVS surveillance footage shortly after the market, before then going to a local pet food store.

Her car was then seen on surveillance entering the gated community at 5:15pm on February 11.

Officials said that numerous emails went unopened on February 11, and that there was no further communication from her account after that day.

Detectives are still waiting on retrieving her full cell phone data, but said her last known activity was February 11.

Hackman was discovered lying on the ground of a mud room just off the kitchen with his sunglᴀsses and cane nearby, indicating he may have fallen according to officials.

Jarrell said that there was no food inside Hackman, and that there was no signs of dehydration.

Hackman with his Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in Unforgiven. The gruff-but-beloved Hackman was among the finest actors of his generation

‘Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer´s disease,’ Jarrell said.

‘He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that’s what resulted in his death.’

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Hackman shared three children with his first wife Faye Maltese. He and Arakawa, a classical pianist, had been married for the last three decades.

The gruff-but-beloved Hackman was among the finest actors of his generation, appearing as villains, heroes and antiheroes in dozens of dramas, comedies and action films from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s.

He was a five-time Oscar nominee who won for The French Connection in 1972 and Unforgiven two decades later.

Hackman met Arakawa, a classically trained pianist who grew up in Hawaii, when she was working part-time at a California gym in the mid-1980s.

They soon moved in together, and by the end of the decade had decamped to Santa Fe.

A naturally private man, Hackman was labelled a recluse as he remained out of the public eye for years on end following his retirement from the movie industry. He retired from acting in 2004.