Gene Hackman death: Bodycam footage shows iconic actor and wife Betsy Arakawa’s dog standing guard over bodies

Heartbreaking police bodycam footage shows the beloved dog of iconic actor Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa loyally standing guard over the couple’s bodies as officers enter their home.

The footage, published by TMZ, shows officers entering the home and discussing the dog.

“He seems pretty friendly,” one of the officers says, before observing that there is another dog around the corner in a kennel.

The officers find Ms Arakawa’s body first in front of a dresser, with one of the dogs by her side.

Hackman’s body was found in the kitchen.

A third dog was found dead inside a crate, where it had been secured following a vet appointment.

The news comes as authorities released a lengthy report detailing the final internet searches by Ms Arakawa in the days before she died.

Her search history indicated she was scouring the internet for information on flu-like symptoms and breathing techniques.

Ms Arakawa died in February of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome — a rare, rodent-borne disease that can lead to a range of symptoms that include flu-like illness, headaches, dizziness and severe respiratory distress, investigators have said.

Hackman, an acclaimed actor, is believed to have died about a week later of heart disease with complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

The partially mummified remains of Hackman, 95, and Ms Arakawa, 65, were found in their home on February 26, when maintenance and security workers showed up at the home and alerted police.

According to the report released on Tuesday, a review of the open bookmarks on Ms Arakawa’s computer on February 8 and the morning of February 12 indicated she was actively researching medical conditions related to COVID-19 and flu-like symptoms.

The searches included questions about whether COVID could cause dizziness or nosebleeds.

She also had mentioned in an email to her masseuse that Hackman had woken up February 11 with flu or cold-like symptoms but that a COVID test was negative and she would have to reschedule her appointment for the next day “out of an abundance of caution”.

Ms Arakawa’s last search was the morning of February 12 for a healthcare provider in Santa Fe.

The discovery of nests and dead rodents on the property has also provided a new link to the reclusive star couple’s deaths.

BBC reported that evidence of rodents was found in eight detached buildings off their Santa Fe home where the pair were found.

The BBC reported from New Mexico Department of Public Health records that found rodent faeces, a live rodent, a dead one and a nest for the animals were discovered in three garages on the property. The report revealed that there were also rodent droppings found in two outbuildings and three sheds.

Rodents had also been sighted in abandoned vehicles and farm machinery on the property

A report obtained from the New Mexico Department of Health showed an environmental assessment of the Hackman property found rodent faeces in several outbuildings but not inside the living quarters. A live rodent, dead rodent and a rodent nest were found in three detached garages.

Nestled among the piñon and juniper hills overlooking Santa Fe, the Hackman home is not unlike others in area as mice are common within the surrounding landscape.

One of the couple’s three dogs also was found dead in a crate in a bathroom closet near Ms Arakawa, while two other dogs were found alive. A state veterinary lab tied the dog’s death to dehydration and starvation.

— With Associated Press