South Carolina police close investigation into Hayden Panettiere's accidental death
Greenville police have concluded their investigation, confirming the medical examiner’s ruling that actress Hayden Panettiere died from an accidental overdose, while the DEA continues its separate probe.
South Carolina police announced Wednesday that their investigation into the death of actress Hayden Panettiere has been closed, citing the medical examiner’s determination that the death was accidental. The Greenville Police Department said it had "concluded its investigation" following the coroner’s findings.
Panettiere, 36, was found unresponsive in a Greenville apartment in August. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office earlier ruled the death an accidental overdose involving fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine, noting no traumatic injuries.
"It’s not uncommon for local police to close a case while federal investigators are still actively working," a spokesperson for Panettiere told ABC News, adding that the DEA’s investigation appears to remain ongoing.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration had been assisting local authorities and is believed to be examining the role of street-level drug dealers who may have supplied the substances involved.
Police reports indicate that Panettiere’s boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother were present when officers arrived and that emergency responders attempted life-saving measures before she was pronounced dead.
The actress had previously spoken about her struggles with addiction and recovery, and her May memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning," addressed topics such as postpartum depression, trauma and domestic abuse. She is survived by her daughter Kaya, whom she shared with ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.