Hayden Panettiere’s cause of death revealed

Actor Hayden Panettiere died from an accidental overdose of various drugs, according to the South Carolina coroner. Panettiere, who was 36 years old, was found unresponsive in an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina on August 16. Her boyfriend at the time, Brian Hickerson, and his brother Zach were present at the scene. The coroner’s office released details stating that fentanyl and its byproduct, along with the anti-anxiety medication alprazolam, were found in Panettiere's system.

The office did not provide further information from the autopsy report. A spokesperson for Panettiere's family mentioned that the investigation is still ongoing and complex. Greenville Police continued to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death. Paramedics arrived at the scene after a 911 call and performed CPR for over 40 minutes before declaring her dead.

No signs of trauma were found in her autopsy, confirming the accidental nature of her death. Panettiere rose to fame through her roles in the TV shows "Heroes" and "Nashville". She had struggled with addiction, including alcohol, and postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter Kaya in 2014 with Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

Panettiere had also faced various family challenges and tragedies, including the strained marriage of her parents and the loss of her younger brother Jansen, who died of a heart condition in 2023.