The moment that cops spoke to Gene Hackman’s family has been disclosed in an emotional update following the actor’s death

One of Gene Hackman’s daughters was left “overcome with grief” and unable to talk during a heartbreaking speakerphone conversation with cops.

Sheriff Adan Mendoza called one of Hackman’s daughters and put her on speaker along with the owner of a Santa Fe dog boarding home. They called her to ask her what to do with the two dogs that were left on Hackman and his wife’s property. But she was left too upset to talk.

Joey Padilla who runs the boarding facility 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 owners. Bear, a German Shepherd and Nikita, an Akita-shepherd mix, can’t be rehomed until the couple’s wills are read.

Gene Hackman
Mystery: Cops are baffled as to how Gene Hackman died ( 
Image:
WireImage)

They are staying there indefinitely until it transpires what provisions – if any – Hackman made for the dogs in the wake of his death. It remains to be seen if any of Hackman’s family will take the dogs on board, or if they will be rehomed with a new family.

It comes as new heartbreaking details have emerged of the condition the dogs were found in. Cops have previously described the pair of dogs as “healthy”, while the remains of a third “mummified” dog was found in a closet in the bathroom near Betsy’s body.

It’s since emerged that the dog that died was 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 at least 10 days – were found by cops, who called in animal control.

Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa and their dogs
Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa and their dogs ( 
Image:
Celebrity Pets)
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 also by using treats, but the dog refused. In the end they had to set up a door trap for her overnight in the backyard