Greenville Police Rule Hayden Panettiere's Death Accidental

Greenville police announced on Wednesday that the investigation into the death of actor Hayden Panettiere is complete. Authorities have officially classified the death as accidental.

The department issued a statement citing the Medical Examiner's determination and the specific findings of the probe. The ruling confirms that no other cause of death was identified.

Panettiere, 36, was found unresponsive on Aug. 16 at an apartment complex in South Carolina. She had been staying at the location at the time. The actress was known for her roles in the television series "Heroes" and "Nashville" as well as films including "Remember the Titans" and "Ice Princess."

The timeline of events leading to the conclusion began with the discovery in August. Last month, the Greenville County Coroner's Office released its findings. The report identified the cause of death as an accident resulting from the toxic effects of several drugs. The substances listed in the report were fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol, and quetiapine. The coroner noted that there were no signs of trauma contributing to the death.

Police stated that nothing suggested foul play during the initial response or the subsequent investigation. Brian Hickerson, Panettiere's on-and-off boyfriend, was present at the complex when she died. The police report indicates he showed officers a bag of medication that he said she had been taking.

Coroner records show that Panettiere had been in rehabilitation only weeks prior to her death. She had previously spoken publicly about her struggles with addiction. Her mother, Lesley Vogel, responded to the coroner's findings by calling her daughter a fighter. Vogel noted that her daughter was transparent about her addictions and her resolve to live a healthy life. Vogel added that she had never heard Panettiere speak of fentanyl.

Panettiere's memoir detailed her personal struggles. She wrote that her life began to unravel after the birth of her daughter in 2014 with Ukrainian heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko. She described turning to heavy drinking to cope with postpartum depression and Klitschko's emotional distance. She entered rehab and gave Klitschko custody of their child in 2018. The book also addressed the grief she carried after the death of her brother, Jansen Panettiere, in 2023 from an undiagnosed heart condition.