Hayden Panettiere death investigation closed as police make final ruling
Heroes and Nashville star Hayden Pannetiere died aged 36. (Dimitrios Kambouris)
Greenville Police Department has closed its investigation into Hayden Panettiere’s death, ruling it accidental following the medical examiner’s findings.
In a statement, the force said (as per Deadline): “Based on the Medical Examiner’s determination and the findings of the investigation, Hayden Panettiere’s death has been ruled accidental.”
Panettiere, 36, was found unresponsive in Greenville, South Carolina, on 16 August and was pronounced dead at the scene after failed resuscitation attempts.
What did the coroner find?
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office determined that Panettiere died from the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine, and ruled the manner of death accidental.
The coroner’s report also said there were no signs of trauma that would have been a contributing factor to her death.
Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach were at the scene, and the brothers made the 911 call, according to a police report obtained by CBS News.
Hayden Panettiere’s death investigation
Authorities, including the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), were investigating the circumstances of Panettiere’s death. It remains unclear whether any federal enquiries have concluded.
In September, before the toxicology findings were finalised, Panettiere’s representatives pushed back on early speculation about the cause of death, calling it “unverified hearsay” while stressing the investigation was ongoing.
Panettiere broke out as Claire Bennet in NBC’s Heroes and later starred as Juliette Barnes in Nashville, earning Golden Globe nominations. She also appeared in films including Remember the Titans and the Scream franchise as Kirby Reed.
She had spoken publicly about addiction and mental health, and came out as bisexual in her memoir, which was released earlier this year.
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