Hayden Panettiere died from an accidental overdose involving several drugs, including fentanyl, the Greenville County Coroner’s Office said Tuesday, Sept. 22.
The 36-year-old actor was found unresponsive in an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, on Aug. 16. Her on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were at the home.
According to the coroner’s statement, Panettiere had fentanyl and its chemical byproduct in her system. The other substances identified included the anti-anxiety medication alprazolam, a muscle relaxer and a drug used to treat major depression and other serious mental health disorders.
The coroner’s office did not disclose additional findings from Panettiere’s autopsy.
Investigation remains ongoing
Although her death was determined to be an accidental overdose, Greenville Police confirmed Tuesday that the investigation into Panettiere’s death is continuing.
Kasey Kitchen, a publicist for Panettiere’s family, also emphasized that the matter has not been closed.
“The investigation is still ongoing and the case is complex,” Kitchen said when asked about the coroner’s findings.
Emergency personnel responded to Panettiere’s apartment following a 911 call. Paramedics carried out CPR and other advanced resuscitation measures for more than 40 minutes before she was declared dead.
Greenville County Coroner Mike Ellis said the autopsy found no evidence of trauma that could have caused her death.
A police report released after Panettiere’s death included a list of medications she had been taking. However, the names of those medications were redacted from the document.
Panettiere had written about addiction and early fame
Panettiere became widely known through the television shows Heroes and Nashville. She had been a child star and later wrote about the lasting personal impact of becoming famous at a young age.
In her book, the actor disclosed that she had experienced alcohol addiction. She also described enduring postpartum depression after the 2014 birth of her daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
Panettiere had also faced significant difficulties within her family. Her parents’ marriage became strained and ultimately ended.
Her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, died from a heart condition in 2023. He was 28.
What Happens Next?
Greenville Police will continue investigating the circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s death. The coroner’s office has not released the remainder of the autopsy report, while the family’s publicist has characterized the case as complex and ongoing.