Hayden Panettiere died from accidental drug overdose, coroner rules
The investigation into the death of actor Hayden Panettiere has been closed, with authorities ruling the 36-year-old died from an accidental drug overdose.
The Greenville Police Department in South Carolina confirmed to Page Six that the case had concluded following the findings of the medical examiner.
Panettiere was found unresponsive at an Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16. Although the Greenville County Coroner’s Office ruled her death accidental in September, police continued their investigation before formally closing the case.
Emergency services were called after attempts were made to revive the actor at the scene. Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, was administered before CPR was performed. Panettiere was later pronounced dead at the scene.
The coroner’s office determined she died from the combined toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine. An autopsy found no evidence of trauma contributing to her death.
Panettiere’s on-again, off-again partner Brian Hickerson and his brother, Zach, were at the property when emergency responders arrived. Earlier reports, citing sources familiar with the circumstances, said Zach Hickerson found the actor unresponsive while his brother was asleep in another room.
Investigators also discovered suspected drugs, prescription medication and drug paraphernalia inside the apartment.
The actor had spoken publicly about her struggles with addiction and mental health in recent years. Her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, published in May, detailed her experiences with substance abuse, domestic abuse and the pressures of growing up in the public eye. She had also discussed her battle with postpartum depression and efforts to seek treatment.
Panettiere had spent several weeks in a rehabilitation facility in Malibu shortly before her death, according to Page Six. Her father, Skip Panettiere, reportedly told investigators she had struggled with addiction since her early 20s.
Panettiere began her career as a child actor, making her first on-screen appearance in a commercial at just 11 months old. She later became widely known for playing Claire Bennet in the television series Heroes and Juliette Barnes in Nashville.
Her film credits included Remember the Titans, Raising Helen, Ice Princess and Scream 4.
She is survived by her daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with former fiancé and Ukrainian boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko.