After finding their owners dead at home, Gene Hackman’s dogs made a final show of affection.

The actor, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, died a week apart after their bodies were discovered on their Santa Fe ranch on February 26th.

Arakawa died on February 11 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, while Hackman died on February 18 from ‘hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a substantial contributing component.’.

Their dog, Zinna, also perished, and the couple’s two remaining dogs, Bear and Nikita, were running and howling when the Santa Fe Fire Department arrived days later.

According to Fire Chief Brian Moya, Bear and Nikita regrettably led them to the remains of their deceased owners.

“They realized the dog was attempting to say, ‘Hey, get over here! “Come over here,” Moya explained.

The first responders then tracked one of the dogs into a mudroom, where they found Hackman’s body.

The dogs entered and exited the house after opening the backdoor, with Arakawa stationed in the bathroom near the front entrance.

Dr. Heather Jarrell, New Mexico’s chief medical examiner, earlier stated during a news conference in Santa Fe that ‘Hackman exhibited symptoms of severe Alzheimer’s disease. He was in really terrible health.

It is believed that the actor would have been at home for seven days without realizing his wife had died.

“He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that is what resulted in his death,” she told me.

“Mr. Hackman’s first pacemaker data showed cardiac activity on February 17, with subsequent pacemaker interrogation revealing an aberrant rhythm of atrial fibrillation on February 18, which was the final trace of heart activity.

“Based on this information, it is reasonable to conclude that Mr. Hackman died around February 18th.”

“Based on the circumstances, it is fair to assume that Ms. Hackman died first, with the last known time she was alive being on February 11th.

“Lastly, clinically, hantavirus infection is characterized by flu-like symptoms consisting of fever, muscle aches, cough, and sometimes vomiting that can progress to shortness of breath and cardiac or heart failure and lung failure.”

According to Santa Fe County, Adan Mendoza, Arakawa picked Zinna up from the veterinary facility on February 9th.

CCTV footage captured the classical pianist in her car at about 4.54pm on February 11th.

He stated, “On February 11th, at 5.15pm, numerous emails remained unopened on her computer.”

“There was no additional outgoing communication from her or known activity after 11 February.”