After enduring weeks of trauma in what authorities described as a “house of death,” two of Gene Hackman’s dogs survived after the legendary actor and his wife, Betsy, were found dead in their home on February 26. A third dog, Zinna, tragically died alongside the couple.
Harrowing new footage taken inside the New Mexico mansion captures one of their heartbroken dogs watching over Betsy’s lifeless body. Officers are seen combing through the reclusive couple’s cluttered home in the bodycam footage, released today by police in New Mexico, US.
Gene and Betsy’s seven-year-old German shepherd, Bear, is seen staring anxiously at her body as she is discovered in the bathroom of the property in Santa Fe. In the 11-minute video, one of the investigators is heard saying: “Poor guy, he’s sad,” in reference to the pooch. Officials blurred the musician’s body, but the house is seen as cluttered and squalid.
The two surviving dogs – Bear and Nikita, an Akita-Shepherd mix – have finally been rehomed to new, loving families. However, they have been separated and are now adjusting to life apart.
Joey Padilla, owner of Santa Fe Tails doggy day care, had been looking after the pair since the tragic deaths. Speaking to DailyMail.com, Padilla confirmed he had just returned from personally delivering one of the dogs out of state, while the other has found a home locally. Due to privacy concerns, he declined to share specific details about their new locations, only noting that they are no longer together.
In a later statement, Padilla explained that the placements were approved by the couple’s estate attorney. “With great joy, and with the consent of the estate attorney, my team and I at Santa Fe Tails have successfully found new homes for Bear and Nikita,” he said.
“We made every effort to ensure they were placed in safe, caring environments, and both are already beginning to settle in.” Padilla also expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support the dogs have received.
“We are thankful for the well wishes during their transition,” he added. “Our hope is that people continue to respect their privacy so they can continue to heal.”
Inside a large walk-in closet was a pet crate where the couple’s third dog was found dead on February 26. A report from USA Today stated that she had been recovering from a “major surgery” in January and was on crate rest. Authorities suspect she died from dehydration and starvation.
Piles of clothes, documents and other items were littered throughout various rooms inside the residence. Gene, 95, died of a heart illness with complications from Alzheimer’s disease around one week after Betsy, 65, died of hantavirus. Gene’s body was found in the mud room area.
An investigator in a report: “I observed the the male’s extremities to be red and purple in colour, the male appeared to be stiff, and his mouth was open. I also observed a pair of black sunglasses to the to the left on the male that were on the ground. To the right of the male, I observed a black-in-colour walking cane. It appeared as if the male suddenly collapsed.”
In the video, deputies are seen opening doors and windows to let air inside the home. One says: “It smells like gas.” While carbon monoxide poisoning was considered an early cause of death, it was later ruled out by investigators.
Medical examiners concluded Betsy, a classical pianist, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome around February 12, a rare condition brought about by the hantavirus that is spread via rodent droppings and urine. Gene, who married Betsy in 1991, died a few days later on February 18 from severe heart disease, which was exacerbated by Alzheimer’s disease and kidney disease.
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