Gene Hackman's daughter breaks down in tears as she's told major detail during phone call
One of Gene Hackman's daughters became "overcome with grief" and unable to speak during a devastating phone conversation with the police. Sheriff Adan Mendoza called one of Hackman's daughters and put her on speakerphone along with the owner of a Santa Fe dog boarding home.
They called to ask her what to do with the two dogs that survived the tragic incident that took the lives of the Hollywood icon, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 63, last week, but she was left too upset to talk. According to the Mirror, Joey Padilla who runs the boarding faility Santa Fe Tails said: "It was overwhelming for everybody. There was a lot to intake. I finally said, 'Listen, I'm just here to help'."
He then took them to his boarding kennels. It comes as the two surviving dogs have been left in "limbo" after the death of their two owners. Bear, a German Shepherd and Nikita, an Akita-shepherd mix, can't be rehomed until the couple's wills are read.
They are staying there indefinitely until it is revealed what provisions, if any, Hackman made for the dogs in the wake of his death. It is yet to be seen if any of Hackman's family will take the pups on board, or if they will be rehomed with a new family.
The news comes after new heartbreaking details emerged of the condition that the dogs were found in. Officers have previously described the dogs as "healthy", while the remains of a third "mummified" dog was found in a closet in the bathroom near Betsy's body.
It has since emerged that the dog that died was called Zinna, a 12-year-old Australian Kelpie mixed-breed, and not a German Shepherd that was originally reported. The dogs, who most likely had been left free to roam for approximately 10 days, were found by cops who swiftly called in animal control.
While Bear, who was found near Betsy's body, was captured easily, Nikita was running around and "skittish because of all the commotion", according to USA Today. They tried to coax Nikita into Betsy's car by opening and closing the door and using treats, but the pooch refused.
In the end, they had to set up a door trap for her overnight in the backyard. The investigation into the couple's death has come to a halt while officers are awaiting the results of the pair's toxicology results. Hackman and the classical pianist were found dead in separate rooms of their lavish home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, last Wednesday (February 26).
The actor was likely to have died about nine days before his body was discovered by authorities. Police previously confirmed the last event noted on Hackman's pacemaker was on February 17. However, police have so far been unable to establish if Hackman or his wife passed away first.
Cops are trying to piece together their last movements and have drawn up a list of people they are talking to, including the actor's children Christopher, 65, Elizabeth Jean, 63, and Leslie, 58, who he had with his ex-wife Faye Maltese.
