{
  "id": 17184996,
  "title": "Death of US actress Hayden Panettiere ruled accidental, ending local police probe",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/death-of-us-actress-hayden-panettiere-ruled-accidental-ending-local",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-30T05:59:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Chronicle Ghana",
    "slug": "the-chronicle-ghana",
    "url": "https://thechronicle.com.gh/death-of-us-actress-hayden-panettiere-ruled-accidental-ending-local-police-probe/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The death of US actress Hayden Panettiere has been ruled accidental by police in South Carolina, ending an ongoing local investigation, the Greenville Police Department has announced. The actress, 36, passed away in August from a drug overdose at a South Carolina residence. The medical examiner's report revealed that Panettiere died from the toxic effects of fentanyl, Xanax, methocarbamol, and quetiapine in her system. The Greenville Police Department cited the medical examiner's determination in concluding its investigation into the actress's death. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reportedly participated in the local police probe, but it remains unclear if the DEA's investigation has concluded. Panettiere, who had been open about her battles with substance abuse, was found unresponsive on 16 August. At the time of her death, emergency responders found her in cardiac arrest, with no signs of trauma contributing to her passing. Panettiere's ex-boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother Zack were present when emergency services arrived.",
  "summary": "The death of US actress Hayden Panettiere has been ruled accidental, ending a local probe into her death, police in South Carolina have said. The Heroes and Nashville star died in August from the toxic effects of fentanyl, Xanax and several other drugs in her system, at the age of 36. Citing the medical examiner’s report […] The post Death of US actress Hayden Panettiere ruled accidental, ending…",
  "key_points": [
    "US actress Hayden Panettiere's death ruled accidental by South Carolina police",
    "Fentanyl, Xanax, methocarbamol, and quetiapine found in her system",
    "DEA participated in local police probe, investigation status unclear"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The medical examiner's determination brings a close to local law enforcement inquiries into the actress's death while leaving the scope of federal investigations by the DEA uncertain.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}