A police error during the investigation into Gene Hackman’s death has further complicated the case.
The legendary actor, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, were found dead in their Santa Fe home on Wednesday, 26 February.
In the days that followed, it was revealed officials found Hackman’s fully clothed body in the kitchen and classical pianist Arakawa’s in a bathroom, and that she had been dead ‘for some time’, as her body was in a state of decomposition and mummification.
It had also initially been reported that their deceased dog was discovered in a closet in the bathroom.
However, it has now been revealed officers misidentified one of their dogs.
Initial reports had stated that their German shepherd, Bear, was found dead in its crate in their home, but the pup was actually at a pet daycare centre in Santa Fe with their other dog Nikita.
According to USA Today, Bear was alive and healthy at the pet daycare facility, and the dog that had died at Hackman’s home was an Australian Kelpie mixed-breed called Zinna.
Her body was found in a closed crate and taken to facility Santa Fe Tails, according to the publication.
A friend of the couple, Sherry Gaber, told USA Today of her distress hearing the initial news about Bear.
‘I can’t handle that image,’ she said.
‘That’s why this whole thing is so distressing. It just doesn’t add up.’
When told it was Zinna and not Bear who had been found dead in the home, she added: ‘My body’s just shaking right now. I’m grateful (it’s not Bear). It’s still a tragic story.’
There have been no further details on how the deceased dog was misidentified, but a spokeswoman from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said she hadn’t heard of the mistaken dog identity and that investigators may have just misidentified the breed.
She told the publication: ‘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.’
USA Today claims the misidentification of the dog could raise doubts about other aspects of the investigation into Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths.
This comes after investigators shared an update earlier this week, saying pills found at the scene of Hackman’s death are considered to be ‘of concern’.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza told reporters: ‘We’re looking at [the pills] specifically, and other medications possibly in the residence.’
He stressed no conclusions had yet been reached about the pills playing a part in Hackman and his wife’s deaths, as investigators say it could take ‘weeks’ to determine the cause.
He said: ‘Initial findings noted no external trauma to either individual.
‘The manner and cause of death have not been determined. The official results of the autopsy and toxicology reports are pending.’
Authorities had also initially considered carbon monoxide poisoning but later ruled it out following an examination by the medical examiner.
It comes after it was revealed that Hackman’s pacemaker registered its last event on 17 February – nine days before his body was found.
Sheriff Mendoza said: ‘According to the pathologist, I think that is a very good assumption, that that was his last day of life.’
Metro has approached the Santa Fe County Sheriff Office for comment.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.