A coroner’s report has revealed that actress Hayden Panettiere died from an accidental overdose involving fentanyl and several other drugs, as authorities shed new light on the actress’s final weeks and the circumstances surrounding her death.
On August 16, Panettiere was found unresponsive in an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, and was later declared dead. She was 36.
Panettiere reportedly attended rehab
The coroner’s report stated that Panettiere had been in rehabilitation just weeks before her death due to addiction.
The Nashville actress had previously spoken openly about her struggles with alcohol and substance abuse.
In her memoir, titled This Is Me, Panettiere discussed how her early fame had lasting effects on her, including her struggles with alcohol addiction and postpartum depression after giving birth to her daughter, Kaya, in 2014.
She also shared in a 2023 interview that she voluntarily entered treatment because she felt she was “drowning.”
During the filming of Nashville, she also entered rehabilitation.
Fentanyl and several other drugs were found in her system
As authorities investigated the cause of her death, the Greenville County Coroner’s Office said Panettiere died from the combined effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine.
4-ANPP is a chemical associated with fentanyl, while alprazolam, commonly known as Xanax, is used to treat anxiety. Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant, while quetiapine is an antipsychotic medication.
Authorities classified her death as an accidental overdose.
Following an autopsy, they found no signs of trauma that could have contributed to her death, Coroner Mike Ellis said.
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Pills and powder found in her apartment
A senior deputy coroner who responded to the scene where Panettiere was found dead said blue pressed pills and a straw were discovered in the apartment. The pills later tested positive for fentanyl.
Investigators also found a white powdery substance inside her suitcase, which was stored in a sunglasses case.
What happened before her death
Before her death, Panettiere was reportedly staying in the apartment with two men.
Their names were redacted in the coroner’s report, although police identified them as her on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson.
The report said one of the men told investigators that he had seen Panettiere putting on makeup at about 10:30am on the day she died. He later went back to sleep.
He told investigators that he woke up after hearing a knock at the door. The two men then found Panettiere face down in a sitting position on a sofa bed, with her legs crossed.
The man said he did not initially find her position unusual. However, he was unable to wake her and noticed that she had turned deep purple.
According to the report, Brian Hickerson administered two doses of Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, before calling 911 when Panettiere failed to respond.
Paramedics arrived at the scene and performed CPR and other advanced resuscitation efforts for more than 40 minutes before Panettiere was declared dead.
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Panettiere’s plans for her birthday
When the investigator contacted the actress’s father, he said his daughter had been making plans for her birthday, including spending time in Greenville before travelling to Ukraine to visit her daughter, Kaya.
Police investigation still ongoing
Despite authorities determining Panettiere’s death to be an accidental overdose, the circumstances surrounding her death were still being investigated.
Kasey Kitchen, a publicist for Panettiere’s family, said the case was complex.
Panettiere’s struggle with addiction and depression
Panettiere’s death follows years of struggles with addiction, depression and recovery, which she openly discussed in previous interviews.
In 2015, she spoke publicly about suffering from postpartum depression and anxiety, during a period in which she turned to alcohol and drugs while struggling to cope.
Panettiere found success as a child actress, but her early fame was accompanied by significant personal struggles.
In 2023, her family also experienced tragedy when her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, died from a heart condition.
She also spoke about her difficult relationship with Hickerson and allegations that he physically abused her.
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