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The DEA has joined the Hayden Panettiere death investigation following the actor’s death in Greenville, South Carolina. However, authorities have not announced the agency’s specific assignment or determined an official cause of death.
Panettiere, 36, was found unresponsive at an apartment on Aug. 16. Emergency crews attempted to revive her before declaring her dead at the scene.
DEA Assists Local Investigation
The Drug Enforcement Administration will assist the Greenville Police Department, according to reports citing sources familiar with the investigation. Local police remain the lead agency.
Federal agents can help identify controlled substances and trace how drugs were obtained. They may also review prescriptions, communications and possible distribution networks. However, officials have not said which tasks the DEA will perform in this case.
The agency’s participation does not confirm that Panettiere died from an overdose. It also does not establish that anyone committed a crime.
Authorities have not announced any arrests or identified any suspects. Greenville police previously said investigators found no initial evidence of foul play or suspicious circumstances.
Hayden Panettiere Death Investigation Awaits Test Results
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office completed an autopsy after Panettiere’s death. The examination found no signs of trauma that contributed to her death.
However, the cause and manner of death remain undetermined. Additional studies, including toxicology testing, are pending. Such tests can take several weeks to complete.
Emergency dispatch audio referenced a possible overdose and cardiac arrest. Those communications reflected information available during the emergency response. They do not represent a final medical conclusion.
According to a police incident report, first responders performed CPR after arriving at the apartment. Panettiere was pronounced dead shortly after 2:30 p.m.
Brian Hickerson, Panettiere’s on-and-off partner, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were at the apartment. The report said the men spoke with responding officers. Details from portions of those conversations were redacted.
Police also documented a bag containing Panettiere’s medications. Authorities have not publicly identified those medications or connected them to her death.
Actor Had Spoken About Addiction and Depression
Panettiere became widely known through roles in “Heroes,” “Nashville” and “Remember the Titans.” She began acting as a child and later earned two Golden Globe nominations for “Nashville.”
She had also spoken publicly about struggles with alcohol, drug use and postpartum depression. Panettiere addressed those experiences in interviews and in her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” released in May.
That history provides context but does not determine what caused her death. Investigators must rely on medical evidence, toxicology findings and other verified information.
The DEA’s participation adds federal resources to an investigation that remains active. Until officials release the final findings, reports describing Panettiere’s death as an overdose remain unconfirmed.
Her death has renewed attention on addiction, mental health and the risks associated with controlled substances. Families seeking confidential treatment information can contact the federal substance use helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.