Hollywood actress Hayden Panettiere is suspected to have died after taking an oxycodone pill believed to have been laced with fentanyl, as US authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding her death at the age of 36.
Panettiere, known for her roles in Heroes, Nashville and the Scream franchise, died on August 16 after she was found unresponsive at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina. Emergency responders attempted to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Brandspur Entertainment News understands that investigators are examining whether the pill came from an alleged drug dealer in Los Angeles with whom Panettiere had exchanged messages before her death. The Drug Enforcement Administration is reportedly reviewing those communications as part of the investigation.
Reports indicate that Panettiere travelled from Los Angeles to South Carolina with a bag containing various medications. Investigators suspect she took a pill believed to be oxycodone that had been contaminated with fentanyl, although the official cause of death remains pending until toxicology testing is completed.
Her death has prompted renewed scrutiny of illicitly obtained prescription medication, particularly the danger posed by fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that can be present in counterfeit or illegally supplied pills without the user’s knowledge.
Panettiere was found in cardiac arrest, and police have previously said there were no apparent signs of trauma. Her on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were at the residence when she was found unresponsive, according to a police report.
Hickerson reportedly administered Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, while efforts were made to save the actress. He has not been identified as a suspect in Panettiere’s death.
The investigation has since expanded beyond South Carolina. Authorities are examining Panettiere’s communications and the possible source of the pills as they seek to establish what happened in the hours before her death.
Panettiere had previously spoken publicly about her struggles with addiction and the pressures she faced during her years in the entertainment industry. Her death came shortly after the release of her memoir, in which she discussed difficult experiences from her life and career.
While reports linking her death to a fentanyl-laced pill have emerged, authorities have yet to make that the official cause of death. Toxicology results are expected to provide further clarity as the investigation continues.
