EXCLUSIVE: Police have just released the results of Arnie’s autopsy — and the final cause of death was described as “highly unusual” for a case involving a stolen vehicle.
According to investigators, the veterinary forensic team found no signs of external injury on the seven-year-old German Shepherd. Instead, the report points to a sudden, acute collapse inside the locked cabin, likely triggered by a combination of extreme stress and rapidly rising temperatures inside the sealed car.
What shocked investigators most was a detail mentioned in the final notes:
Arnie’s position suggested that he had struggled to reach the front seats in the last moments — as if he was trying to get closer to the door or searching for his owner.
Experts say the temperature inside the vehicle may have spiked far faster than expected, especially with the windows fully shut. Police are now trying to determine exactly how long the dog was locked inside after the thief abandoned the car on Amelia Street.
One officer familiar with the report called the findings “devastating, because the signs suggest Arnie fought quietly until the very end.”
Investigators emphasize that the autopsy results do not rule out other contributing factors, including possible panic, dehydration, or a sudden cardiac shock brought on by fear — all of which remain under review.
The search for the person responsible for stealing the vehicle — and leaving it with Arnie trapped inside — is still underway. Police are urging the public to come forward with any CCTV or dashcam footage that could help piece together the dog’s final hours.