US actress Hayden Panettiere died from accidental drug overdose, coroner says
Quick Look
- US actress Hayden Panettiere, 36, died from an accidental overdose involving fentanyl, alprazolam, a muscle relaxant and an antidepressant, according to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.
- She was found unresponsive in a Greenville, South Carolina apartment on August 16, with her on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach Hickerson present.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Hayden Panettiere is a US actress known for roles in 'Heroes' and 'Nashville'. She has previously spoken publicly about struggles with substance use and mental health.
US actress Hayden Panettiere died from an accidental overdose of several drugs, including fentanyl, a coroner in South Carolina said on Tuesday.
Panettiere, 36, was found unresponsive in an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16. Her on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach Hickerson were at the home.
According to a statement from the Greenville County Coroner’s Office, a combination of fentanyl and its chemical by-product, as well as the anti-anxiety medication alprazolam, a muscle relaxant and a drug used to treat major depression and other serious mental health disorders, was found in Panettiere’s system.
The office did not include further details from the autopsy report in its initial release.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Toxicology report will be finalized and released in the coming weeks
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What were the exact quantities of each substance found in her system?
- Was there any indication of intent or suicidal behavior?
- Have toxicology results been finalized?
- Will there be further investigation into how the drugs were obtained?
