29.10.2026 11:50
Police in Greenville, South Carolina, investigating the death of American actress Hayden Panettiere announced that it was ruled accidental and that the local investigation has been completed. The 36-year-old star of the series Heroes and Nashville died in August due to the toxic effects of fentanyl, Xanax and some other drugs. It is not yet clear whether the DEA investigation has been concluded.
US actress Hayden Panettiere died in South Carolina, where police announced that her death had been ruled accidental and that the local investigation had therefore concluded.
The star of Heroes and Nashville died in August at the age of 36 due to the toxic effects of fentanyl, Xanax and certain other drugs in her body.
POLICE COMPLETED INVESTIGATION
The Greenville Police Department, where the incident occurred, said it had "completed its investigation" into her death, citing the autopsy report announced last month that determined Panettiere died of an "overdose of drugs."
In a statement, police said, "Based on the medical examiner's determination and the findings of the investigation, Hayden Panettiere's death has been determined to be accidental."
FATE OF DEA INVESTIGATION UNCLEAR
The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was reported to have joined the local police investigation. It is not yet clear whether that investigation has also concluded. The BBC has contacted the DEA for comment.
According to CBS News, the BBC's US media partner, authorities, including the DEA, were investigating how Panettiere died. A spokesperson for the Greenville Police Department, contacted by the BBC, declined to comment on what the DEA was investigating.
MULTIPLE DRUGS DETECTED IN HER BODY
Panettiere, who spoke openly about her struggles with substance abuse, was found dead on August 16 at a home in South Carolina.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, has caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans over the past five years.
The medical examiner also confirmed that a drug overdose including fentanyl caused the star's death. The medical examiner also detected methocarbamol, a prescription muscle relaxant, and quetiapine, an antipsychotic drug used to treat certain mental health conditions, in Panettiere's body.
According to the police report, Panettiere's ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson (who had admitted to sexually abusing her) and her brother Zack were with emergency responders who arrived at the scene.
We used artificial intelligence to translate this article, whose original is in English. A BBC journalist checked the translation before publication.