DEA assists Greenville authorities in investigation of Hayden Panettiere's death

The Drug Enforcement Administration has joined the Greenville Police Department and the county coroner's office in investigating the death of actress Hayden Panettiere, 36, who was found unresponsive at a South Carolina Airbnb on Sunday. Law enforcement officials said the investigation is focusing on a possible drug overdose.

Paramedics responded to a 911 call reporting cardiac arrest and performed CPR and advanced cardiac life support before pronouncing Panettiere dead at 2:32 p.m. local time. A device used to dispense Narcan, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, was found near the scene, though it is not yet known whether it was used.

According to a police report, Panettiere was in the apartment with her on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach Hickerson. Hickerson showed officers a bag of medication he said she had been taking, but the specific substances have not been identified.

"She suffered from intense back pain in the months leading up to her death," said Erick Orellana, Panettiere's hairdresser and close friend.

Panettiere had previously spoken publicly about her struggles with alcohol and opioid dependence and had been in custody disputes involving her daughter Kaya. Authorities have not released a definitive cause of death, and the autopsy reported no signs of trauma.