An examination of the dog found dead along with actor Gene Hackman and his wife in their Santa Fe home shows dehydration and starvation were likely what led to the animal's demise.

Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa’s two surviving dogs had been ‘trying’ to alert first responders of their deaths, per the police chief

After a maintenance man who had worked on the couple's Santa Fe, New Mexico, home for years found the front door open and saw Hackman's longtime wife and caretaker, Betsy Arakawa, lying on the floor, first responders were called to the scene.