Investigation Focuses on Drug Dealer After Hayden Panettiere's Suspected Overdose
Authorities are examining text messages between actress Hayden Panettiere and an alleged dealer as part of a DEA probe into her death, which is suspected to involve a fentanyl-laced pill.
Law enforcement officials are reviewing a series of text messages exchanged between actress Hayden Panettiere and a man identified as her long-term drug supplier in the weeks leading up to her death on Aug. 16. Sources said the messages detailed specific requests for black-market narcotics, and the DEA is using them as a primary lead in its investigation.
Neighbors in West Hollywood reported seeing two young women and a man in their mid-30s visit Panettiere’s residence frequently from 2021 onward. According to one source, the visitors would drop off bags, which Panettiere would collect without the individuals remaining on the premises.
A bag labeled with the name “Brian” was reportedly delivered a week before the actress was found dead in an Airbnb in South Carolina. The name may refer to her on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, who has already spoken with DEA agents, though the content of his statements has not been disclosed.
Panettiere, known for roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” was discovered after taking a single pill believed to be oxycodone contaminated with fentanyl. A dose-reversal medication, Narcan, was found at the scene. The coroner’s office has not yet released an official cause of death.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that synthetic opioids such as fentanyl are involved in roughly 70% of overdose fatalities nationwide. The Drug Enforcement Administration reported seizing tens of millions of fentanyl-laced pills and thousands of pounds of fentanyl powder in 2025.