Actress Hayden Panettiere allegedly took a counterfeit or contaminated oxycodone pill containing fentanyl on the day she died, according to reports citing sources familiar with the investigation.
Panettiere, who was 36, was found unresponsive at an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, last month.
Sources cited by TMZ said investigators believe the pill may have been among prescription drugs she obtained illegally from a longtime dealer in Los Angeles.
Investigators Trace the Drugs She Took
According to the reports, Panettiere had travelled from Los Angeles to South Carolina with her on-and-off boyfriend, real estate agent Brian Hickerson, one day before her death.
Authorities reportedly believe she brought several drugs purchased in Los Angeles on the trip.
Investigators are now examining whether the oxycodone pill she took on the morning of her death had been laced with fentanyl.
Fentanyl is an extremely powerful synthetic opioid, and even a very small amount can cause a fatal overdose.
Narcan Was Used at the Apartment
Hickerson reportedly discovered Panettiere unresponsive and administered Narcan, a medication designed to rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
First responders also found Narcan at the apartment, while emergency dispatch records reportedly initially described the situation as a cardiac arrest before a dispatcher identified it as a suspected overdose.
Greenville County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that Panettiere’s autopsy was completed and that investigators found no evidence of physical trauma.
DEA Joins the Investigation
The reported discovery of a potentially fentanyl-laced pill has brought federal investigators into the case.
Hickerson is said to have met with Drug Enforcement Administration investigators last week as authorities worked to establish where the medication came from.
Police are reportedly attempting to trace the pill to the person who allegedly supplied it to Panettiere.
No arrests have been announced in connection with the actress’s death.
According to a police report, Hickerson also handed authorities a bag containing medication Panettiere had been taking after she was pronounced dead.
Police Were Called Over an Unresponsive Woman
Detectives told the Daily Mail that officers responded to the Greenville apartment building after a 911 call from an acquaintance who reported that Panettiere was unresponsive.
The emergency call, placed at about 1:51 p.m., reportedly included an initial description of cardiac arrest.
Moments later, dispatch communications referred to a suspected overdose.
Hickerson was at the scene when Panettiere was pronounced dead, along with his brother, Zachary.
Panettiere Had a Long History of Substance Abuse
Panettiere had been open about her struggles with alcohol and opioid addiction throughout her adult life.
She entered rehabilitation for eight months in 2020 after developing jaundice and later wrote about the severity of her substance-use problems in her memoir.
She said a doctor had warned her that she could die within five years if she did not stop drinking.
Panettiere also revealed that her addiction had begun when she was 15.
She previously said she initially took what she described as “happy pills” to help her appear more energetic during interviews.
Her struggles intensified after the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in 2014, when she experienced postpartum depression.
Troubled Relationship With Brian Hickerson
Panettiere’s relationship with Hickerson had been marked by serious allegations and legal problems.
Hickerson faced multiple domestic violence charges during their turbulent relationship and served 13 days in custody in 2021 after being convicted of injuring the actress.
Despite their complicated history, he was with Panettiere when she died and reportedly provided authorities with the medication found at the residence.
His brother Zachary was also arrested over the weekend on a disorderly conduct allegation stemming from a bar fight.
Reports said the incident occurred after the brothers were allegedly heckled about Panettiere’s death. He was released on bond Sunday.
A Career Built on Major Television and Film Roles
Panettiere became widely known as a child and teenage actress before gaining international recognition as cheerleader Claire Bennet on NBC’s Heroes.
She later starred as Juliette Barnes on Nashville, a role that earned her two Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress in 2013 and 2014.
Her credits also included the Scream franchise, where she played Kirby Reed, as well as voice roles in video games including Until Dawn and Kingdom Hearts.
Her Brother’s Death Deeply Affected Her
Panettiere also experienced profound personal loss when her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, died in February 2023 at the age of 28. His family said he died from an enlarged heart.
The actress later spoke about the emotional impact of his death, saying she felt as though she had lost half of her soul.
She also described experiencing major changes in her weight and mental wellbeing following the loss.
Memoir Revisited the Difficulties of Her Life
Only months before her death, Panettiere’s memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, became a New York Times bestseller.
In the book, she discussed her rise to fame, motherhood, addiction, relationships and the personal struggles she faced away from the spotlight.
Her account offered a candid look at years of substance abuse, including her battle with opioids and alcohol, as well as the challenges surrounding her recovery.
The latest reports about her death remain part of an ongoing investigation, and authorities have not publicly confirmed that a fentanyl-laced pill caused her death.
