Bodycam footage from Gene Hackman’s home shows dog guarding Betsy Arakawa even after her death

Warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised. 

SANTA FE, MEXICO: As investigations into the tragic deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, unfold, a haunting new video has emerged from their Santa Fe home.

The bodycam footage released by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, April 15, captures a heartbreaking scene, the couple’s dog standing guard over Arakawa’s lifeless body, a powerful display of loyalty that left fans deeply moved and praising the pet’s devotion until the very end.

The 95-year-old Oscar-winning actor and his 65-year-old wife were discovered on February 26, after security personnel noticed something amiss through a window and immediately contacted authorities.

Bodycam footage shows Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's dog sitting near her body

In the heartbreaking footage, one of the couple’s German shepherds stood watch over Betsy Arakawa’s lifeless body, a quiet symbol of loyalty, as per People.

The couple's dog, a kelpie mix named Zinnia, was found dead in a crate inside a closet near the body of Arakawa. A necropsy report revealed Zinna likely died of dehydration and starvation. 

Their other two dogs, Nikita and Bear, were discovered alive, roaming the property.

In the blurred footage, deputies are seen entering a part of the home near the bathroom, where Arakawa's body was found. One of the surviving dogs sat nearby, visibly emotional.

"She’s guarding her," one officer remarked, before adding, "Seems pretty friendly." "Poor guy, he’s sad," another investigator said, reflecting the somber mood in the room.

As officers moved through the home, they could hear another dog barking and running in the distance.

According to authorities, Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease caused by hantavirus exposure, as per the Daily Mail.

Hackman, who was believed to have remained alone in the house for days after her death, died from a combination of severe heart disease, hypertension, and advanced Alzheimer’s. 

The couple's surviving dogs, Nikita and Bear, have been rehomed, as per the statement of a personal representative for Hackman and Arakawa's estates. 

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's house was in disarray

While Betsy Arakawa’s body was blurred out for privacy, the video clearly reveals bottles of medication and various toiletries scattered across the bathroom counter.

As deputies continued through the $4 million Santa Fe mansion, they encountered piles of clothing, documents, photographs, and other personal belongings strewn throughout multiple rooms. Their search led them to the other side of the home, where Hackman’s body was found.

“It looks like he was trying to go outside,” one deputy remarked after locating Hackman’s body in the mudroom area.

An investigator’s report described the scene in chilling detail: "I observed the the male's extremities to be red and purple in color, the male appeared to be stiff, and his mouth was open. I also observed a pair of black sunglasses to the to the left on the male that were on the ground."

"To the right of the male I observed a black in color walking cane. It appeared as if the male suddenly collapsed," they added. 

Internet emotional as footage shows Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's dog guarding her body

The bodycam footage from Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s home left netizens emotional, with many commenting on how the couple's dog loyally protected Arakawa even after her death. 

A Facebook user wrote, "Loyal to the end," and another said, "This situation is so sad."

A person expressed, "What a good pup. So sad," whereas someone else declared, "Dogs are better than most humans."

"My heart breaks for that dog. He is in mourning it's obvious. Sitting by his owner. Tells me she was a good person. I pray these 2 dogs have a good person watching them now," another comment read. 

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