Hayden Panettiere Died of Accidental Overdose Involving Fentanyl, Coroner Rules
The Greenville County Coroner's Office said the 36-year-old actress died from the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine, and ruled the manner of death an accident.
The death of actress Hayden Panettiere was caused by the toxic effects of fentanyl combined with several other substances, and the manner of death has been ruled an accident, the Greenville County Coroner's Office announced.
The 36-year-old performer was found unresponsive on Aug. 16 at a residence on Easley Bridge Road in Greenville, South Carolina, where she had been staying temporarily, according to the coroner's account of the emergency response. A 911 call reporting a cardiac arrest came in at about 1:51 p.m., and first responders and emergency medical personnel arrived to find a woman in cardiac arrest. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m.
The coroner's office identified the decedent as Hayden Leslie Panettiere, 36, of California, and said it opened a parallel investigation with the Greenville City Police Department. An autopsy performed by a board-certified forensic pathologist found no signs of trauma that would have contributed to the death, the office said.
According to the autopsy findings, the cause of death was the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine. The manner of death was classified as an accident. The combination includes a powerful synthetic opioid, a precursor compound, an anti-anxiety medication, a muscle relaxant and an antipsychotic drug.
Panettiere's boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach, called 911 after finding the actress unresponsive, according to a police report. Hickerson later provided authorities with a bag containing medication Panettiere had been taking, the report said. Zach Hickerson appeared «very emotional» while paramedics worked to revive her, while Brian Hickerson did not become emotional until after the actress was declared dead, according to the report.
Brian Hickerson had traveled with Panettiere from Los Angeles the day before she was found unresponsive. The two had briefly separated in 2022 but rekindled their relationship the following year, and Hickerson's brother confirmed to police that Brian was in a relationship with the actress at the time of her death. The Drug Enforcement Administration had also been contacted and was assisting with the investigation.
Panettiere's representatives previously pushed back on speculation surrounding the star's final hours, accusing outsiders of turning her death into an opportunity to «fuel gossip.» In a statement, her representative said many people who were not close to her were speculating about a situation they knew very little about, calling it deeply disrespectful to her memory and to those who knew and loved her and are grieving.
The representative urged anyone with legitimate information to contact law enforcement rather than turning to social media to speculate publicly about something they do not fully understand. The statement also said that much more to the story remained than what was being discussed publicly, and that those closest to Panettiere were actively cooperating with the ongoing investigation to help ensure the truth comes to light and that justice is properly served.
Panettiere, who began her career as a child actor, became widely known for her role in the television series «Heroes» and later for the drama «Nashville.» She also appeared in films including «Remember the Titans» and «Ice Princess.» Her death prompted an outpouring of attention from fans and former colleagues, and the coroner's findings now provide the first official accounting of what ended her life.
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