Greenville Police Rule Hayden Panettiere's Death Accidental

The Greenville Police Department announced on Tuesday that it has closed its investigation into the death of actor Hayden Panettiere. Officials stated that the death has been ruled accidental based on the medical examiner's determination and the findings of their independent inquiry.

Panettiere, who was 36 years old, died from an accidental overdose involving multiple prescription medications and fentanyl. Toxicology testing identified the specific cause of death as the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol, and quetiapine. An autopsy revealed no signs of contributing trauma.

On August 16, dispatchers received a 911 call at approximately 1:51 p.m. reporting a woman in cardiac arrest inside an apartment in Greenville. Panettiere was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. Her on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother Zach Hickerson were present at the apartment at the time.

The Greenville County Coroner’s Office had previously established the cause and manner of death, closing its portion of the case. Police detectives maintained an open investigation to follow additional leads before reaching their final determination.

Panettiere was widely recognized for her roles in the television series Heroes and Nashville, as well as films including Ice Princess and the Scream franchise. In May, she published the memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she detailed her childhood, career, and struggles with alcohol, opioids, and postpartum depression.