The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office is understood to have made an error in their reporting on the mysterious death of Gene Hackman and his wife.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza and Gene Hackman (Photo by Getty Images)

Hackman’s body was discovered inside his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, last week, with his wife Betsy Arakawa also found dead, along with one of their dogs.

It was initially reported that their German Shepherd was found dead near Arakawa, but a report from USA Today has revealed that there was a mistake in the identification of the pet, as the one the police claim was found dead is actually still alive.

The report notes that the canine in question, named Bear, is alive and well, with another Akita-Shepherd mix named Nikita also found alive at the residence.

According to the outlet, the dog who died was a 12-year-old reddish Australian Kelpie named Zinna. Joey Padilla, who transported the living dogs to his facility, Santa Fe Tails, said her body was found in a closed crate on the premises.

“If only people knew how meticulous and amazing [Hackman and Arakawa] were with the dogs,” he said. “It breaks my heart.”

Gene Hackman’s Other Two Dogs Remain In A Facility

Gene Hackman and Wife Betsy Arakawa

The wrongful identification is thought to be a genuine mistake by the investigators. Bear and Nikita, are staying with Padilla while lawyers seek to ascertain whether the couple had any particular plans for the animals in their wills.

Meanwhile, the investigation into the tragic deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa remains ongoing.

The authorities have already ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning following toxicology tests, but they fear that a full autopsy could take at least three months.