Hayden Panettiere death ruled accidental fentanyl overdose, coroner says

The Greenville County Coroner’s Office confirmed on Tuesday, September 22, that actor Hayden Panettiere died from an accidental drug overdose. Panettiere, known for her roles in television series such as Heroes and Nashville as well as the film Remember the Titans, was 36 years old at the time of her passing.

Panettiere was discovered unresponsive at an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, on the afternoon of August 16. Emergency responders arrived at the scene and performed advanced cardiac life support for more than 40 minutes, but she was ultimately pronounced dead.

An autopsy conducted by the coroner’s office determined that the cause of death was the toxic effects of a combination of substances, including fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol, and quetiapine. The coroner’s report noted that there were no signs of physical trauma, and the death was officially classified as an accident.

A police report indicated that Brian Hickerson, the actor's on-and-off boyfriend, and his brother, Zach, were present at the residence when Panettiere was found. The brothers placed the 911 call, and Zach later stated that Brian had attempted to administer Narcan, a medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, prior to the arrival of emergency services.

While the coroner has concluded the cause of death, the Greenville Police Department confirmed that their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident remains ongoing. Authorities had previously stated that there were no initial indications of foul play or suspicious activity.