DEA Assists Greenville Police in Hayden Panettiere Death Investigation

The Drug Enforcement Administration has joined the Greenville City Police Department in South Carolina as an assisting agency in the investigation of actress Hayden Panettiere's death, officials said. Greenville police are leading the inquiry after responding to an emergency call at a private residence on Easley Bridge Road where Panettiere, 36, was found unresponsive. The officer on scene reported that she was with her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zack Hickerson at the time of her death. While the police report noted a bag of medication shown by Hickerson, it did not confirm whether Panettiere had used drugs or alcohol. The coroner’s office conducted an on-site examination, and the official cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and additional studies. Panettiere, known for roles in "Ice Princess," "Heroes," "Nashville" and other films, is survived by her daughter Kaya.