Gene Hackman’s dogs in tragic final act of loyalty to owner as responders searched for body

Actor Gene Hackman’s dogs heartbreakingly led paramedics to the actor’s body in a final act of loyalty, it’s been revealed.

Bear, a German Shepherd, and Nikita, an Akita-shepherd mix, kept running up and barking at the crew attending the scene, before running off. They thought the dogs wanted to play before realising they were leading them to the mudroom where Hackman’s body lay.

Earlier paramedics had found Betsy’s body but had spent 30minutes searching the house to no avail until the dogs ‘ intervention.

“They realized (the dog) was trying to say, ‘ Hey, come over here! Come over here! ‘” Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya told USA Today. Hackman was found in the mudroom which was in the far end of the house. A back door was propped open, allowing the dogs to go in and out.

It comes as the surviving dogs are currently in a state of “limbo” and cannot be rehomed until the couple’s wills have been read. They are presently residing at a dog boarding facility in Santa Fe, New Mexico, after being rescued from the couple’s home.

They will remain there indefinitely until it becomes clear what provisions – if any – Hackman made for the dogs following his death. It is yet to be determined whether any of Hackman’s family will adopt the dogs, or if they will find a new home with another family.

This comes as distressing new details about the condition in which the dogs were found have come to light. Police had previously described the two dogs as “healthy”, while the remains of a third “mummified” dog were discovered in a bathroom closet near Betsy’s body. It has since been revealed that the deceased dog was Zinna, a 12 year old Australian Kelpie mixed-breed.

While Bear, who was found near Betsy’s body, was easily captured, Nikita was running around and appeared “skittish because of all the commotion”. In a tragic turn of events, authorities had to resort to setting up an overnight door trap for Nikita, the dog who refused to leave her deceased owners ‘ side, after attempts with treats and coaxing failed. Both dogs were eventually taken to a boarding facility, where they remain.

The renowned actor Hackman and his classical pianist wife Betsy, 65, were discovered lifeless in different rooms of their Santa Fe home two weeks ago. Betsy died of a rare respiratory disease around seven days before her husband. His Alzheimer’s disease led investigators to suspect he may have remained unaware his wife had died.

Source: Mirror