The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has officially joined the ongoing investigation into the death of actress Hayden Panettiere, according to reports from the New York Times and ABC News. The investigation is being led by the Greenville Police Department in Greenville, South Carolina.
Background on the actress
Panettiere, 36, first rose to fame as a child star before confronting personal challenges that included addiction and postpartum depression. She chronicled many of those struggles in a memoir and publicly discussed the loss of her brother. In recent months she indicated she was ready for a fresh start and was working on a comeback, with a new film released in January.
Details of the incident
Police reports state that Panettiere’s boyfriend and his brother called 911 on Sunday after finding her unresponsive in an apartment complex where she was temporarily staying. First responders arrived to find her in cardiac arrest. Dispatch audio obtained from Broadcastify.com referenced a possible overdose and indicated that CPR was being performed, though authorities have not confirmed an overdose.
Medics attempted resuscitation but were unable to revive her. The coroner’s office pronounced Panettiere dead at the scene at 2:32 p.m. No cause or manner of death has been officially determined while additional testing, including toxicology, is pending. An autopsy performed Monday showed no signs of trauma that could have contributed to her death.
Police involvement and evidence
Greenville officers interviewed brothers Brian and Zach Hickerson, who said they called 911. According to the police report, Brian Hickerson showed an officer a bag of Panettiere’s medications, though many details of the report, including a full medication list, remain redacted.
The DEA’s participation signals a federal interest in the case, particularly given the potential involvement of controlled substances. The agency’s role will likely focus on determining whether illegal drugs were present and whether any federal statutes were violated.
Family response
Panettiere’s body was released to the mortuary chosen by her family on Tuesday night. Her ex‑partner, former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, posted on X expressing profound shock and grief, noting her talent and the challenges she faced in a demanding industry.
Next steps
Authorities have indicated that toxicology results could take several weeks. Until those results are released, the exact cause of death remains undetermined. The investigation will continue under the combined efforts of Greenville Police and the DEA, with updates expected as more information becomes available.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
