How Did Hayden Panettiere Die? What We Know About the 'Heroes' Star's Death

Hayden Panettiere, a renowned actress known for her roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville," died at the age of 36 after being found in cardiac arrest at an apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina on Sunday, August 16, according to local authorities. The New York Times reported that an acquaintance had called 911 shortly before 2 p.m. to report an emergency at the Judson Mill Lofts, located west of downtown Greenville.

Upon arrival, emergency responders discovered Panettiere in cardiac arrest and immediately initiated advanced life-saving measures. She was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m., as confirmed by the Greenville County Coroner's Office.

The preliminary investigation conducted by the Greenville Police Department found no evidence of foul play or suspicious circumstances surrounding Panettiere's death. An anonymous source close to the investigation suggested that the cardiac arrest was likely caused by a drug overdose. However, the official cause of death has not been determined by authorities.

An autopsy performed on Monday revealed no signs of trauma that contributed to her passing, and the coroner's office stated that it could take up to three months to complete the full autopsy results.

Panettiere was reportedly in the company of Brian Hickerson, her former boyfriend, at the time of her death. The source close to the situation claimed that Hickerson was the individual who had called 911, though this has not been officially confirmed by authorities. Attempts to reach Hickerson for comment were unsuccessful, and a lawyer representing him in a recent court filing also did not respond to requests for information.

In her memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning," published earlier this year, Panettiere detailed her relationship with Hickerson, stating that they had dated on and off for several years, having first met in Los Angeles in 2018. Court records reveal that Hickerson pleaded no contest in 2021 to two felony counts of injuring Panettiere.

Panettiere's career as an actress began in her childhood, with her breakout role as Claire Bennet on the television series "Heroes" and later as Juliette Barnes on "Nashville." She also appeared in films such as "Remember the Titans," "Scream 4," and "Bring It On: All or Nothing." Her representative confirmed her death to ABC News, praising Panettiere as an "incredible light and a force of nature" who brought joy to audiences worldwide.