GENE’S ‘BABIES’ Fate of Gene Hackman’s two survivi...

THE fate of Gene Hackman’s two surviving dogs Bear and Nikki has been revealed after the star, 95, his wife, 63, and third pet were mysteriously found dead.

The longtime couple’s bodies were discovered by a neighborhood caretaker who placed a frantic 911 call after seeing the dead pair unmoving through the windows of their sprawling mansion.

Hackman and Arakawa’s two surviving dogs are “safe and adjusting,” a grieving friend of the late couple told ABC.

Bear, a German shepherd, and Nikki, a German mix, were miraculously found alive in their Santa Fe home – meanwhile the third dog, an Australian kelpie mix named Zinfandel, or Zinna, was found dead.

Zinna was tragically discovered in a crate around 10 to 15 feet from Arakawa’s body when the couple were discovered on February 26, according to officials.

Meanwhile Bear and Nikki appeared to have access to a doggy door.

One was near Arakawa’s body and the other was located outside, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said.

Joe Padilla, the owner of pet daycare Santa Fe Tails, has the two surviving pups in his care.

Padilla, who often boarded the couple’s dogs before their tragic deaths, told ABC: “They are safe and adjusting.

“I will be holding on to them until I get word on what Betsy’s wishes for these dogs are.”

He went on to say how Hackman and Arakawa were “amazing friends and dog lovers,” and that the pets were Arakawa’s “babies“.

Padilla said he frequently went out to eat with the couple before the pandemic hit in 2020.

In the years following, Padilla said he stopped seeing Hackman as Arakawa tried to “keep him away from people” to protect his heath, the business owner said.

Padilla said the last time he saw Arakawa was in January when she dropped off one of their beloved dogs, Bear.

Recalling their final conversation, he said: “She was the same old, just, you know, ‘Hey, how’s it going, good to see you.'”

Padilla added: “I’m terribly saddened. They were really good people.”

GAS LEAK

Following thorough investigation, the New Mexico Gas Company made “no significant findings” of gas leaks or carbon monoxide in the home, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to the Daily Mail.

But the gas company did issue five “red tags” – including one for the minor leak at the stove burner which registered “0.03 per cent gas in the air”.

But this is considered to “not be a lethal amount”.

Police said: “The other four red tags were for code enforcement violations – not involving gas leaks or carbon monoxide – involving a water heater and gas log lighters installed in three fireplaces.”

HEARTBREAKING MYSTERY

Cops found the beloved actor and his wife in their home on the afternoon of February 26.

Officials later found the couple had likely been dead for over nine days after Hackman’s last recorded activity on his Pacemaker was on February 17.

Cops found Hackman in a mudroom with his cane and sunglasses near his body.

Police noted the legendary actor looked like he fell to the ground suddenly.

Hackman’s three children from his first marriage released a statement in the wake of the actor’s death.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy,” Hackman’s daughters and granddaughter said in a statement.

“He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa.

“We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”

Hackman was a two-time Oscar winner and five-time nominee after an impressive career spanning four decades.

SFCSO Sheriff Adam Mendoza said it could take months to reveal the actual cause of death.