Greenville Closes Inquiry Into Panettiere Death

Greenville police concluded their investigation into the death of actor Hayden Panettiere on Wednesday. The department announced that her death was ruled accidental. This decision follows a determination by the Medical Examiner and a full review of the evidence.

Panettiere, 36, was found unresponsive on Aug. 16 at an apartment complex in South Carolina. She had been staying at the location prior to her death. Known for her roles in the television series Heroes and Nashville, she had been in the public eye since her start as a child actor in Hollywood.

The Greenville County Coroner's Office released its findings in September. The report stated that her death resulted from the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol, and quetiapine. The coroner noted no signs of trauma contributed to the outcome. Police added that no evidence of foul play emerged during the initial response or the subsequent inquiry.

Brian Hickerson, Panettiere's on-and-off boyfriend, was present at the complex when she died. The police report indicates he presented officers with a bag of medication. He stated that Panettiere had been taking those drugs at the time of her death.

Lesley Vogel, Panettiere's mother, reacted to the coroner's findings by calling her daughter a fighter. Vogel emphasized her daughter's transparency regarding her struggles with addiction. She noted that the numerous rehab attempts demonstrated a resolve to live a healthy life. Vogel also stated she had never heard Panettiere speak of fentanyl.

The coroner's report indicated Panettiere had completed a stint in rehabilitation only weeks before her death. In her memoir, she detailed a life that began to unravel after giving birth to a daughter in 2014. Her child was the product of a relationship with Ukrainian heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko. Panettiere wrote that she turned to heavy drinking to manage postpartum depression and Klitschko's emotional distance.

Panettiere entered rehab and granted Klitschko custody of their child in 2018. Her book also covered the grief she experienced following the 2023 death of her brother, Jansen Panettiere. He died from an undiagnosed heart condition. Panettiere had previously appeared in films such as Remember the Titans, Ice Princess, and Bring It On: All or Nothing.